QuikTrip Birth Story
San Antonio Father Luis Cerda Delivers Son at QuikTrip on Father's Day
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A San Antonio father delivered his own son in a gas station parking lot on Father's Day — arguably the most memorable gift he could ever receive. At around 2:00 a.m. on June 21, 2026, Luis Cerda pulled into a QuikTrip when it became clear his wife, Mariah, would not make it to the hospital in time, according to KENS5.
Luis called 911 and, guided by an emergency dispatcher, delivered his son — later nicknamed "QT" after the gas station — right in the passenger seat of their car. First responders arrived minutes later. By June 23, the entire family was home and doing well, KENS5 reported.
A 20-Minute Labor That Left No Time to Drive
Mariah Cerda went into labor at roughly 2:00 a.m., and the baby arrived about 20 minutes later, according to Methodist Healthcare. That speed has a medical name: precipitous labor, meaning the entire process from first contractions to birth takes less than three hours. It happens in roughly 0.1% to 3% of U.S. births, making it rare even by medical standards.
Luis pulled into the QuikTrip lot around 2:10 a.m. after realizing they would not reach the hospital. He called 911 at approximately 2:15 a.m. Five minutes later, the baby was born in the car, according to Live 5 News.
911 Dispatcher Talked Luis Through a Dangerous Complication
The delivery was not straightforward. Luis discovered the umbilical cord was wrapped around his newborn son's neck — a condition called a nuchal cord. It sounds alarming, but it actually occurs in 20% to 30% of all births, according to KLTV. In a hospital, doctors handle it quickly. In a parking lot at 2 a.m., it falls to the father.
A San Antonio 911 dispatcher coached Luis through each step over the phone. When first responders from the San Antonio Fire Department arrived around 2:25 a.m., Luis was allowed to cut the umbilical cord himself — under professional supervision. The family was then taken by ambulance to Methodist Hospital Metropolitan, according to KOLOTV.
The Baby Named QT, Born on the Best Possible Day
The timing made this story impossible to ignore. Luis Cerda delivered his son — Luis Cerda III — on Father's Day. The family and local media quickly gave the baby the nickname "QT," a nod to the QuikTrip where he entered the world, according to FOX 34.
Mariah later described being "terrified" and "screaming" during the delivery. But she credited her husband's calm under pressure as the reason everything went right. Experts at Methodist Hospital Metropolitan called Luis's quick actions "vital" to the infant's safety, according to WLOX.
What This Story Says About Emergency Dispatch Training
The outcome highlights how well-trained 911 dispatchers can be. Emergency medical dispatch — or EMD — trains operators to guide untrained people through life-threatening situations, including complicated births. Without that call, the nuchal cord could have become far more dangerous, according to WIBW.
San Antonio sits in Bexar County, which is classified as having "full access" to maternity care — not a place where roadside births are expected. This case was simply a matter of nature moving faster than urban infrastructure could keep up with, according to WTOC.
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