Baby’s dash into world surprises parents

The newest addition to Roberto Andrade and Kendra Budd’s family might have a future as a sprinter on a track team — especially if his birth is any indication.

Dash Douglas Andrade, named for how quickly he decided to make his big debut, was born Sept. 3. He was in such a hurry that he was delivered at home before his parents could get to the hospital or paramedics could arrive to assist with the birth.

Budd said she started having contractions around 4 that afternoon. They weren’t too severe and she thought she would have time to wait for Andrade to arrive home from work at around 7 p.m. and get a poster made for their 4-year-old son, Kruze, who started preschool that day.

“By around 7:15 or 7:20 p.m., my contractions got stronger,” she said. “He told me to relax and sit down.”

Still thinking she had time to wait, she decided to shower before heading to the hospital.

“By the time I was out, my water had broken and I was in so much pain.”

Andrade said the head was starting to crown. He called a neighbor, who is a paramedic, as well as 911.

“I ran to the bathroom to wash my hands. Kruze was helping, grabbing towels and bringing them downstairs,” he said, adding that their 2-year-old son, Diego, was his wingman.

With emergency dispatchers on the phone, the family was ready to bring Dash into the world.

Budd lay on the towels on the floor. After one push, the baby’s ears were visible. Another push and his entire head and neck could be seen.

Andrade noticed the baby’s umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and he was turning blue.

“I fished him out by the armpit and unwrapped the cord.”

Budd said both she and Andrade were concerned that Dash was not crying. So, relying on old television shows and movies, Andrade said he hit the baby on his bottom and he started crying.

Even the family’s dog, a golden retriever named Bogey, helped with the birth, licking the baby shortly after he was born.

When he arrived at 7:55 p.m., Dash weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Five minutes later, paramedics arrived and took Budd and the baby to the hospital.

Andrade, who graduated from Boulder City High School in 1994, said being at his son’s birth was meant to be.

“I wasn’t even going to go to the hospital; I was sick,” he said. “It all happened between 7 and 8 while we were waiting for my mom to take Kendra to the hospital.”

The baby’s speedy birth resulted in a name change, said Budd, a 2000 BCHS graduate.

“We were going to name him Nolan, but we named him Dash because of the way he came out so quickly.”

The two, who live in Henderson, were introduced to each other by friends in Broadbent Park during a Damboree celebration. They have family members who live in Boulder City.