USS BATAAN, At sea (NNS) -- The medical professionals aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) successfully delivered 8 lb. 3 oz. Theo Joe, a baby boy, at approximately 4:40 p.m., Jan. 30 in the ship's hospital, following a medial evacuation to Bataan from Grand Goave, Haiti.
A team of doctors and corpsmen from Bataan were volunteering at the Lifeline Christian Ministries Mission Medical Clinic, in Grand Goave, when they identified a pregnant Haitian woman, who had been laboring for nearly four hours and needed urgent care exceeding the clinic's capabilities.
Bataan's team in Grand Goave ordered an evacuation of the patient to the ship by way of an air cushion landing craft (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4.
"Mom and her baby boy are doing great," said Cmdr. Michael Cackovic, the delivering doctor, who is embarked aboard Bataan from Naval Medical Center, San Diego. "The LCAC ride relaxed her enough to be able to give birth naturally and safely."
Cackovic said the mother and baby are currently listed in stable condition and recovering aboard Bataan.
Bataan is part of the Amphibious Relief Mission, along with USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), in support of Operation Unified Response in Haiti after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the island nation Jan. 12.
