Sometimes, you're simply in the right place at the right time.
For Tanya St. Preux Picault, a shopping trip to Target at the Mall of Georgia turned into a surprise delivery.
Lucky for Picault, labor and delivery nurse Caris Lockwood was also shopping on Aug. 25 and jumped in to assist. The nurse, who works at Piedmont Healthcare's Atlanta Hospital, had been in the store with her mother and sister when the trio spotted Picault, who appeared to be in pain.
Lockwood's mother, Lisa Bozeman, told 11Alive News she felt a calling to stay close to the woman in her condition.
"[She] walked up and politely said 'You don't look so good, can I get my daughter? She's a labor and delivery nurse,'" Picault said.
Picault, now a mother of four, said she'd been to the doctor the day before so hadn't anticipated the sudden onset of labor.
Or the fast delivery of baby Maleek.
"We weren't in Target for 20 minutes between parking and the ambulance," she said.
"I didn't think she was going to deliver that fast at first, but then she had a really painful contraction and her water broke. As a labor and delivery nurse I kind of knew what was about to happen," Lockwood said, adding her sister was able to grab necessary supplies like towels and gloves.
"There was really no time," Lockwood said. "Mother Nature waits for no one. So we delivered right there, at the car."
Lockwood wasn't the only nurse that came to Picault's aid. An ER nurse and NICU nurse were also able to assist with the birth.
"I see a lot of people are saying that she was God-sent...and that's what really goes through my mind: God's provision." Picoult said.
"I think the right people were in the right place," Lockwood said.
Target issued the following statement regarding the surprise at the Buford store:
"We commend the nurses and medical team that jumped in to help and we're happy to hear mother and baby are doing well."
Atlanta nurse jumps into action to assist surprise delivery at local Target
