A reunion 27 years in the making after special delivery for St John WA

Jim Deering clearly remembers the first baby he delivered as a paramedic.  

At the turn of the new millenium, Rebecca Ogilvie went into early labour at home, surrounded by her partner Steven Davis and their two children, Tristen and Tyrelle. 

With the potential complications of a home birth looming large, she needed urgent medical care to support the safe delivery of her child. 

“I remember hearing the sirens, and I knew I would be okay,” Rebecca said.  

“They were coming to save us.” 

Jim and his shift partner, Andrew Gilbert, were straight on to the scene and baby Kienan was born within minutes. 

“I’m lucky enough to have delivered four babies as a paramedic,” Jim said. 

“We do see a lot at the other end of the spectrum, but to see a life begin is something not a lot of us get to experience.” 

Jim would never have guessed Kienan Davis would follow in his footsteps – or would even be driving the very same van Jim drove for years.  

27 years later, Jim, Kienan and Rebecca were reunited at St John HQ in Belmont. 

Kienan is now an Ambulance Transport Officer working within St John WA’s Patient Transfer Services (PTS). 

He spends his days ensuring patients across Perth are carefully transported between hospitals and other medical facilities or safely brought home after being discharged. 

Ambulance Transport Officers can provide medical assistance en route and are committed to maintaining patient dignity, privacy, and safety. 

Remarkably, Jim had also been working with PTS before he retired last year, but this was the first time the two had crossed paths since Kienan’s birth.  

“I’m actually working on Jim’s vehicle now and working on his shift, so a lot of his old patients still speak highly of him,” Kienan said. 

“It really is a blessing to drive that vehicle after the person who helped bring me into this world.” 

Now two and a half years into his role, Kienan has his sights set on being a paramedic.    

And Jim could not be more proud. 

“I’m just glad to see that he’s now wearing green, and I hope that he pursues this career further on,” Jim said.  

Kienan’s line manager, John Backo, was thrilled to see two of his finest team members back together. 

“If I could clone them both, I would,” John said.