Thanks to technology, deployed dad and newborn daughter connect

  • Published
  • By Bryan Magaña
  • 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Someday, when Amelie Rea is old enough, her father will tell her the story of when she was born. It was a cool October afternoon in American Fork, Utah. He was right beside his wife when little Amelie arrived. All smiles, he cooed in his daughter's ears and held back tears, as daddies do.

Still, he couldn't kiss her head or hold her tiny hand. He was halfway around the world, watching everything on a 17-inch screen.

Senior Airman Geiber Rea, 419th Civil Engineer Squadron, is currently serving his first deployment to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. That's where the Air Force Reservist viewed his daughter's birth on a laptop. From a tent. Across the ocean.

For the next five months, he'll meet up with wife, Cecilia, and newborn Amelie for a few minutes each day via Skype, the popular Internet video conferencing site.

"I'm grateful for the technology we have today and for the chance to see the birth, at least on the screen," Airman Rea said.

Gone are the days when deployed Airmen waited for letters or phone calls with news of a baby's safe arrival. Now it happens in real time - a little pixilated, but in real time - and with a 10.5-hour difference between Utah and Afghanistan.

"I really needed his support, and this was one way for him to be there," Mrs. Rea said. "He was at my side, he was next to me. It meant the world to me that he could, in a way, be there."

Mrs. Rea perched her laptop on the side table in the delivery room as Airman Rea - on screen - rooted for her and kept her calm. All along, the couple had planned to share the entire experience, from the nervous anticipation, to the doctor's updates, to the very moment baby arrived.

"At some points I felt like I was there," Airman Rea said. "I was happy to see my girl. All I could see was huge, huge cheeks. She's more beautiful than I even thought. I felt like reaching through the screen and holding her hand."

The couple knew about the deployment long before Airman Rea left, but the pregnancy was a surprise.

"We were planning to get pregnant so that he'd be back before I gave birth, but God wanted to send the baby before then," Mrs. Rea said.

The Reas scrambled to construct the baby's bassinette, finish the nursery, and do some long-term shopping. They also practiced conversing on their laptops to make sure they'd mastered it by the time Amelie showed up. At show time, everything went without a hitch.

"Even though I'm away from my family, I'm happy to be here," Airman Rea said of his deployment. "No regrets. I'm happy to serve my country. Every other sacrifice, everything is worth it."

Uncle Sam needs Mrs. Rea's husband for awhile, but she said she's thankful to have family looking after her, a beautiful baby to tend to, and of course, a solid Internet connection.

"When Amelie is old enough to understand, she'll be proud that her daddy was doing something good for our country, and doing what he loves to do. It's going to be special, I think."