Graphic: Ella holding baby Lucas in front of prime mover truck.
Ella Reindler is one of very few pregnant women who can say they drove themself to hospital behind the wheel of a prime mover.
The Perth woman was 35 weeks pregnant when she decided to join her partner Dave for one last Kimberley adventure before starting her maternity leave. The couple run a business transporting temporary accommodation in their oversized truck.
They were halfway between Halls Creek and Warmun when Ella’s waters broke.
“We looked at each other and thought ‘surely this can’t be it?’” Ella recalls.
Dave was already exhausted after driving for 15 hours straight, so Ella climbed into the driver’s seat of the truck and headed straight for Kununurra Hospital, arriving at 3am.
“They took us in and decided we’d need the RFDS to fly me to Broome Hospital for the birth.”
“The RFDS crew were so quick and efficient,” said Ella. “Janet was my Retrieval Nurse and she made me feel so comfortable and at ease.”
In the meantime, Dave drove their truck 16 hours from Kununurra to Broome, hoping he wouldn’t miss the birth. Fortunately, he made it to the hospital in time to be with Ella as baby Lucas entered the world.
Despite his early arrival, Lucas had no complications and the family were able to leave hospital after four days.
"We were in the middle of nowhere but the RFDS came to the party and helped bring our little man into the world. Lucas is definitely a little bush baby already. What a story to tell!
