Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL HomeTechnology brings expectant dads fighting overseas into the delivery room

Technology brings expectant dads fighting overseas into the delivery room

By Leland Kim - bio | email

KAILUA (KHNL) - Witnessing the birth of your child is something a parent never forgets, but it's something some military dads miss out on because of overseas deployments.  Thanks to modern technology, dads can be in the delivery room virtually and be a part of the entire birthing process.

"It's okay. It's okay. We're doing okay. Yeah," said Yubani Emi Bockoven, holding her newborn son Kevin.   "We're just happy.  Oh my God. He's just a blessing."

Kevin's daddy is stationed in Iraq until April. Even though he's half way around the globe, he got to see Kevin come into the world.

"Hi, Kevin," said Christopher Bockoven, a U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant from Peoria, Illinois, who is based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii's 112^th Artillery Unit.

"Say, ‘Hi daddy. Kevin, say, ‘Daddy, hi,'" encouraged Yubani Bockoven, who is originally from Medellín, Colombia.

Through satellite hookup, Christopher Bockoven saw everything and coached his wife through nine hours of labor.

"I actually feel like I was there," he said. "I mean, I really couldn't ask for more, considering where I am. It really wouldn't be possible anywhere else."

"It really helped," added Yubani Bockoven. "He was talking to me the whole time.  He was able to see the whole labor and he was connected with me the whole time."

Castle Medical Center recently opened its brand new Vera Ziber Birth Center. Connecting a husband with his wife in the delivery room was another milestone for the hospital.

"You get people together that want to serve a patient's needs in a special and unique way, good stuff happens and that's what happened today," said Kevin Roberts, Castle Medical Center's president and chief executive officer.

Even though the family is separated by almost 11,000 miles, they're virtually in the same room, face to face. Christopher Bockoven won't be home for another four months, but he's already bonding with his son.

"I'm watching you sleep right now," he said. "He's smiling.  So, it really makes my day, in fact, my whole year.  I can't wait to hold both of them, probably going to hold both of them at the same time. I'm not going to let go of either one."

A husband and wife, connected by new technology and a new life.

"He's just everything now," said Yubani Bockoven, fighting back tears. "Yeah."

Hospital executives say they hope to have more virtual deliveries with dads serving overseas.