Inside Furman is published quarterly by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
Webcam was WORTH the PRICE
When Sarah Worth gave birth to twins William and Charles on November 28, her husband, Bill, stationed halfway around the world in Baghdad , actually saw the children first — thanks to a Webcam, wireless Internet and a good friend.
“The doctors had a sheet up, so I couldn't see anything,” says Worth, who delivered by Caesarean section. “I know Bill saw more than I did.”
Carmela Epright, Worth's fellow professor in the Furman philosophy department, operated the Webcam, while Bill Price (Military Science) looked on from his overseas office and provided support via cell phone.
“Even if he wasn't there in person, it was nice to have him in my ear,” says Worth.
The couple, who met in the fall of 2002 and married two years later, discovered that Worth was pregnant last spring, three days before Price, an Army Reservist, was scheduled to leave for Iraq .
The news was welcomed, but somewhat bittersweet because Worth knew that her husband, a lieutenant colonel, would not be able to share in her pregnancy. She learned later that she was having twins and would have to undergo a Caesarean because of the position of one of the babies.
With the twins expected in late December, Worth and her husband worked with their obstetrician to schedule the delivery for December 8, when Price would be in Greenville on a three-week leave.
But nature intervened.
On November 27, Worth's water broke — just a day after she had turned in her fall term grades. After calling her husband, she and Epright scrambled to put technology to work. The couple had been using a cell phone, Internet and Webcam to communicate, so Epright assembled the hardware in the delivery room.
“Thankfully, the hospital [Greenville Memorial] has wireless Internet,” says Worth.
With Price glued to a computer monitor and cell phone, the twins were born on the 28th at 7:12 and 7:14 a.m., respectively. William Tendler, weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces, arrived first. His brother, Charles Rabon, weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces.
Both mom and babies endured the delivery well and returned to the couple's home in the Half Mile Lake subdivision four days later. Price arrived home December 4 to a family that had doubled in size.
Worth, who has taken a leave during winter term to care for the twins, gives credit to her Furman colleagues and neighbors for helping throughout the pregnancy, birth and with early infant care.
“The Furman community has been really helpful. The neighbors took care of my lawn and did grocery shopping for me,” says Worth. “Everyone has been really great.”