HIGHLAND CITY, Fla. - Every day, Polk County Fire crews answer calls for help, but one call in particular was very special – they helped welcome a new life into the world.

On Thursday, Marquise and Kaylee Hartle expressed their heartfelt gratitude as they shook hands with the Polk County dispatcher, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs who helped deliver their week-old baby boy, Theodore.

"We're very faith-driven, and we believe the Lord gave us this group of people behind us to deliver this baby, and we're thankful for that," said Marquise. "If this is how it's supposed to look when these high-pressure moments come, then they got it. This is what they need."

The backstory:

On Aug. 19, shortly before 9:30 a.m., Kaylee went into labor at her home in Highland City.

Marquise called 911

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