Christmas run turns into special delivery

Transit officer helps woman who was giving birth on Philadelphia street

Video: Wonderful World

Transforming Newark's South 9th St.
July 3: In one block in Newark, N.J., affordable homes now stand in place of vacant lots, thanks to a group of entrepreneurs hoping to change a neighborhood and make a difference. NBC’s Ron Allen reports.

Woman thanks 911 operator who saved her life

Lego landmarks on display in Chicago

Sky over Big Apple turns orange

Baby delivered in car during storm

Your turn!

Inspirational athletes
In honor of the 2008 Olympics, we're celebrating the athletes in your own life who inspire greatness.

Giving

Courtesy of Willie Garson

Willie Garson touts adoptions in U.S.
Cause Celeb talks with actor Willie Garson about his efforts to spread awareness about public adoption in the United States.

Mich.-based charity shuts down

Obama lauds community nonprofits

Obama: All Americans should give back

Dina Manzo reaches out to kids with cancer

Michelle Obama calls on Americans to serve

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

updated 10:30 a.m. ET Dec. 26, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Transit officer Steven Rocher got up before dawn on Christmas to deliver a few more presents to his mother's house. He ended up delivering a very special gift indeed.

Rocher, 51, a police sergeant with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, was driving through North Philadelphia on Tuesday when he heard a woman scream.

The woman was lying on the sidewalk near a bus stop, about to give birth, and he saw a man tugging at her clothes.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

"As I got closer, he says to me, 'Help me, please!'" Rocher said.

Rocher, a transit officer for two decades, said employees get annual CPR training "but nothing about delivering babies."

Still, he managed to figure it out.

"When I heard the baby crying, I felt a sense of comfort because I knew the baby was OK," he said.

Moments later, Rocher got back in his car and flagged down a colleague.

"I said, 'Call radio, tell them we need rescue. I got a baby being born!'" said Rocher, who has three sons, ages 17, 21 and 27.

The rescue car took the baby girl and her parents to Temple University Hospital.

"I will remember this Christmas when I retire for a long time," Rocher said.