A father half way around the world serving his country in Iraq was able to witnesses his son being born in Jacksonville, Florida thanks to the help of modern technology.
Navy Corpsman Jason Maris was right by his wife Meredith’s side to witness the life-altering moment thanks to the help of a satellite.
After careful inspection of all 10 fingers and toes, the only word Jason Maris could think of to describe his little boy — “beautiful.”
A day later, while Meredith Maris, her daughter 2-year-old Avery and 1-day-old Aiden were at Baptist Medical Center, her husband was also there in the form of a satellite image on a TV screen.
The image was made possible through the Freedom Calls Foundation — a service that allows soldiers in the war zone to participate in family milestones.
In the case of the Maris family, that milestone was the Monday birth of Aiden.
“It was very emotional, but it was just great having him there, you know. It’s so much easier for him to see it in his own eyes than to recap it all,” Meredith Maris said.
She told Channel 4 it was difficult not having her husband at the hospital in person, but said it was his voice and support on the other end of the monitor that got her through the birth.
“He’s always calming for me. So, it was nice for him to be there,” Meredith Maris said.
Jason Maris said he would have rather been here in person, but called the camera and TV screen the next best thing.
“I talk to my wife everyday, but seeing her in person makes things a lot easier,” Jason Maris said.
Not only was the satellite feed an opportunity for Jason Maris to see his son for the first time, but he also used the opportunity to spend time talking with his daughter.
Jason Maris is expected to return home to his family this fall. In the meantime, Meredith Maris said she plans on staying busy and returning to work and hanging out with friends and family.
