Franklin teen, set to graduate high school, reunites with firefighters who delivered him

Norman Miller, The Milford Daily News
·4 min read

FRANKLIN — Craig Scharland never has a problem breaking the ice when talking to new people.

The 18-year-old Franklin resident, who will graduate next week from Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, is especially fond of telling the story of his birth, as he was delivered by Franklin firefighters in the back of an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

"It's my go-to opener," said Scharland, who will attend the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in the fall. "When I'm in school and I'm meeting someone new, it's something I bring up first. It's a big point of conversation for me."

Craig Scharland, 18, of Franklin, right, shakes hands with Franklin fire Capt. Darrel Griffin, as Battalion Chief Chuck Allen looks on, May 26, 2022. Scharland was recently reunited with the firefighters who helped deliver him almost 19 years ago, at Franklin Fire Department headquarters. Scharland will graduate from Bishop Feehan High School on June 3.

For the firefighters who delivered Scharland nearly 19 years ago, it's a memory they'll never forget. Of the five who responded to a call about a woman in labor, Battalion Chief Chuck Allen and Capt. Darrell Griffin, remain with the department.

"I do remember it quite well," said Allen. "It's definitely one of my more memorable calls."

Griffin added: "It's one of those calls that you don't forget. It's one of those things that can go either way — it can be really good or it can go really bad. This one went really good."

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Craig Scharland's mom, Holly Scharland, was already a mother of two on July 23, 2003, when she was hosting a play date for her other children. She wasn't due for a week, and she expected to be late with the birth, as she had been with her two other children.

But while hosting the play date, which included 16 children and several other pregnant women, she went into labor and her water broke.

Craig Scharland, 18, of Franklin, and his mother, Holly Scharland, pose with Franklin Fire Department Battalion Chief Chuck Allen, right, and Capt. Darrel Griffin at Franklin Fire Department headquarters, May 26, 2022. While en route to Milford Regional Medical Center on July 23, 2003, Allen and Griffin helped deliver Scharland on Route 140 in Hopedale. Scharland graduates from Bishop Feehan High School on June 3.

"I think, at the time, I was relieved the firefighters were getting there because at this point, I thought my friends would have to deliver the baby," Holly Scharland said. "The poor firefighters showed up and there was a house full of kids and there were three or four pregnant women there and they had no idea who was ready to pop."

It was not a typical scene, Griffin recalled.

"When we get dispatched to a call, I usually run through my mind all of the best- and worst-case scenarios," he said. "I started thinking about breech babies and what to do. Then when we arrived, there's a woman in the driveway waving us in who is eight months pregnant and we asked if she was the one in labor and she said no. Then when we went in, there were two or three other women who were very pregnant, too. It was bizarre. We found Holly, she was on all fours by the dining room table."

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The firefighters thought they were going to make it to the hospital, but it soon became apparent that wasn't going to happen.

"Unfortunately, we only got halfway there," said Allen. "Craig wasn't waiting."

Craig Scharland was born healthy and remains in good health. He plays five varsity sports in school and is a member of several after-school clubs. He also loves to golf and will study both cyber-security and entrepreneurship.

"I definitely like working out and keeping active," he said. "Anything that keeps me physically active is good for me."

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For the first few years after Craig's birth, Holly Scharland would visit the Fire Department each year on his birthday and give out cupcakes or other treats to the firefighters

Craig Scharland, 18, of Franklin, center, stands with Franklin Fire Department Battalion Chief Chuck Allen, right, and Capt. Darrel Griffin, the two firefighters who helped deliver him before his ambulance could get to Milford Regional Medical Center on July 23, 2003.
Craig Scharland, 18, of Franklin, center, stands with Franklin Fire Department Battalion Chief Chuck Allen, right, and Capt. Darrel Griffin, the two firefighters who helped deliver him before his ambulance could get to Milford Regional Medical Center on July 23, 2003.

"I remember they did come to our house for his first birthday," she said. "They were all so cute, all of the same firefighters came with their truck and presents.

"It was so cute."

Allen eventually lost track of Scharland, but said he frequently thought of that day and was happy things turned out well.

"I've been in emergency services for close to 30 years and in this line of work, the outcomes of emergency calls are not always good," he said. "This is one of those positive outcomes that really sticks with you and it has certainly been a great story."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Franklin firefighters recall delivering baby now set to graduate