Dan Daniel Associates Handle a Very Special Package

Dan Daniel DC associates Michael Gaddy and Mershandra Walker hold their new son, Nathan.

When logistics assistant Mershandra Walker arrived to work third shift at the Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va., on March 15, she ended up handling a very special delivery.

About 30 minutes after she got to work, Walker, who was nine months pregnant, went into labor. Her son, Nathan Michael Gaddy, weighing 5 pounds, 1 ounce, was born at the DC at 1:28 a.m.

Nathan wasn’t due for another 15 days, but that obviously didn’t matter to him.

Once Walker realized Nathan’s arrival was eminent, she called her boyfriend, Michael Gaddy, to take her to the hospital to prepare for their son’s arrival. Loss Prevention Manager Harrie Jones called 911, and EMTs arrived just in time.

‘A wimper’

Gaddy, who served in the Navy from 2000 to 2006 and works as a Dan Daniel warehouse foreman, made it to Walker’s side, too, for his son’s grand entrance.

“He let out a little whimper, and they placed him on my chest,” Walker said. “He was looking right at me, eyes wide open. Michael was able to think for me at a time when I wasn’t thinking clearly and get the help I needed. I was so scared and panicked that I wasn’t able to think rationally.”

Growing like a weed

Nearly a month after little Nathan’s birth, Walker, who has two other children, said that he’s doing great and growing like a weed.

“We are just very thankful that everything turned out OK,” Walker said. “This definitely a birth we will never forget. Nathan is doing amazing! He had his two-month check-up today and he is currently 10 pounds and 8 ounces and over 21 inches long.”