Last Friday first-time mom Jena Kunkel not only welcomed the arrival of her daughter Ryleigh Mae, but she was able to do so with her husband present. 
A local news station, Fox43, reported on the story, as well as provided a video at the hospital with the now family of three, and why Joseph Kunkel’s presence was so significant.
Pvt. Joseph Kunkel is a soldier in the U.S. army, and explains in the video interview that there had been some difficulty with his flights in reaching his wife. Kunkel says that he had a ticket from Lawton to Dallas to Baltimore, but at Lawton they had canceled his flight.
Fortunately, because of a fellow soldier who drove Joseph there, he was able to catch a flight after Dallas, though he was also met with delays. He was nevertheless able to make it in time and surprise his wife for the birth of his daughter at York Hospital.
The video also features a touching and amusing moment. After she had requested more anesthesia, nurses sent in a new doctor. A few seconds into explaining how the anesthesia would work out, Jenna realized that the ‘doctor’ was actually really her husband! Joseph had had his uniform on under scrubs, and his face had been covered by a doctor’s mask. Three hours later, Ryleigh Mae arrived.
Such an arrival is particularly touching when conversation between the married couple expressed doubts that Joseph would have been able to make it. But thanks to how the situation worked out after all, certainly not without the kindness of others and some amusing disguises, a brave soldier got to share what is perhaps a father’s proudest moment in witnessing the birth of his daughter. Joseph said that he “fell in love with his baby as soon as [he] saw her.”
And as Jena said about the situation with its happy ending:
“She was just waiting extra long; I swear she knew that her daddy was coming,” Jena added.
“The most beautiful thing; I will remember this day for the rest of my life, not only obviously because it’s our first born, but just the miracle of how everything worked so perfectly,” Jena said.
