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“There are truly no words that can accurately describe the immense happiness this has brought into my life!” father Eric Mayeda shares with PEOPLE
It all started when Colorado police officers responded to a report of a woman in distress in a front yard, which led to their assistance in delivering triplets!
According to a news release from the Greeley Police Department, four officers were dispatched to the 600 block of 36th Avenue Court in the early morning hours of April 18 after receiving noise complaints.
Upon arrival, they found a 24-year-old pregnant woman on the front porch, clearly in pain. It was apparent, according to police, that she was in labor as her water had broken.
While waiting for medical assistance, the officers stayed with the woman, providing support. Eventually, they heard a cry and realized that a baby boy was being born, although he appeared “blue” in the cold temperatures and snowy conditions.
“One officer located bread ties to secure the umbilical cord, while another rushed to nearby residences to gather towels and blankets to keep the new family warm,” shared the Greeley Police, as per the release.
The department further detailed, “Another officer, who remained with the mother, proceeded to secure and sever the umbilical cord. The fourth officer quickly transported the baby boy back to the patrol car, where it was warmer.”
The police revealed that the newborn stopped breathing while in the patrol car, requiring CPR and chest compressions before medical personnel arrived to take over.
But the story didn’t end there; as this unfolded, the woman informed one of the officers that she was expecting triplets, prompting a request for additional medical assistance.
A second baby boy was delivered with the officers’ help, and the umbilical cord was promptly secured before rushing him to the waiting ambulance, where medical personnel were attending to the first baby.
Greeley police noted that the initial two infants were taken to a hospital, while a second ambulance arrived to transport the mother to the same facility for the delivery of the third baby.
Subsequently, authorities disclosed that the pregnant woman, later identified as Tiffany Leonard, was alone at home when she went into labor. However, her phone battery had died, prompting her to seek help from a nearby neighbor to call 911.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Leonard’s boyfriend, Eric Mayeda, shared that their triplets — Billy, Burt, and Kikutaro — arrived 14 weeks early. They are currently in a neonatal intensive care unit and are expected to remain there for approximately three to four months.
“They are making progress!” Mayeda exclaimed, expressing his gratitude to Leonard “for blessing us with these three beautiful little miracles!” He added, “Words can hardly express the immense joy, happiness, and excitement this has brought into my life!”
He also extended his appreciation to the Greeley police “who promptly arrived and assisted in delivering two of our boys into this world!” He further acknowledged the medical staff who delivered their third child at Northern Colorado Medical Center, along with everyone caring for their babies in the NICU at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, CO.
The proud father initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with expenses following the new additions to their family, emphasizing that his sons “are bravely fighting in the NICU in Aurora, CO, under the exceptional care of our state’s finest medical teams.”
Greeley Police Chief Adam Turk commended the officers involved in the triplets’ delivery.
“We hold our officers to high standards in our community every day, which is deeply ingrained in our core values. Despite these high expectations, I was impressed by the teamwork, resourcefulness, and compassion our officers displayed towards this mother and her three newborn sons,” he stated, as per the release.
“The successful resolution of this situation underscores the excellence of our officers, their training, and our partnerships with other public safety agencies in the area,” Turk concluded.
