Published: November 21, 2009 07:28 pm      

Little Amelia makes a smooth landing

PARIS — When Samantha Miller chose the name for her second child some time ago, she had no idea how fitting it would be.

She chose the name Amelia because she wanted a strong female name.

As it turned out, mother and baby would take a helicopter flight to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana for the baby’s birth on Nov. 5. The flight was the first for Miller and even little Amelia got a certificate and her first wings after she was born at Carle.

Fittingly, she came into the world already named Amelia — like the famed aviation pioneer and strong proponent of women’s rights, Amelia Earhart.

And the baby’s already living up to her name, as Miller said, “She’s proven to be more stubborn than I thought she’d be.”

Miller, 27, lives in Paris with her boyfriend, Chad Oakes, and their 2-year-old son, Chad. Amelia Marie Oakes came home from the hospital just last Tuesday.

Miller is from Danville, and attended Danville High School for three years. Her maternal grandparents, Bob and Janet True, live in Danville, and her mother, Tina (True) Miller, lives in Champaign.

The baby’s great-grandmother, Carol Miller, lives in Georgetown, along with numerous other relatives.

Miller said the baby was due Dec. 18, but she began having contractions in early November. Her doctor tried to stop the contractions, but Amelia was determined to arrive early.

Late on Nov. 4, Miller was flown by helicopter from the Mattoon hospital to Carle’s neonatal center.

About 10:30 a.m. the next day, Amelia arrived — six weeks early — weighing just 4 pounds, 10 ounces.

The helicopter crew, including the pilot, registered nurse and two crew members, presented the family with Baby’s First Flight Certificate, noting the date and the crew’s names.

It was Miller’s first flight, but she said, “It was not the way I wanted to fly.” It was a short flight, lasting about 15 minutes, she said.

Miller was released from the hospital after 24 hours, and the baby came home last week. She’s doing fine, but needs to be on an apnea monitor.

“Carle took the best care of her,” Miller said. “The nurses are just great.”

Another twist is that the baby was born on her grandmother’s birthday. Tina Miller said, “This is the best birthday gift.”

But Samantha replied, “It wasn’t what I had in mind (as a present for her mother).”

Kandy Betout of Georgetown hasn’t met her great-niece yet, but is eager to do so.

“I’m glad everything turned out OK and she’ll be able to be home for the holidays,” she said.

It was a scary situation at first, when she learned her niece and the baby would be airlifted to Carle. She’s relieved everything has turned out all right.

Betout doesn’t have children of her own, so she dotes on her 13 nieces and nephews, three great-nephews and 10 great-nieces. And twins are on the way, due Dec. 28.

Miller and her boyfriend work at North American Lighting in Paris.