When choosing her daughter’s godparents, Kitana Garrett immediately knew who she wanted to talk to: Cody Hill and Jamie Roan, the first responders who saved her baby’s life.

On October 5, 2021, when she was only 25 weeks pregnant, Garrett suddenly gave birth while alone at her home in Columbia, Tennessee. She called 911, and one of the first people to show up was Hill, a firefighter with Columbia Fire & Rescue. He said hello america he “expected the worst” and was relieved to see the baby – Za’myla Camilla Miracle Garrett – was alive and breathing.

He turned on the house heater as high as possible to keep the baby warm and began performing CPR, using a bag valve mask to get her breathing. Roan, a paramedic from Maury Regional Emergency Medical Services, then arrived and also performed CPR. Everyone was “amazed” by the little newborn weighing just over a pound, and seeing her react to their treatment gave them “some hope and we got excited,” Roan said.

In the ambulance, Roan spoke to Za’Myla, telling her, “Fight it little girl”, and she stayed by the baby in the hospital, keeping Garrett informed of her condition. Za’myla was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children‘s Hospital in Vanderbilt, where doctors said Hill and Roan’s quick actions during this critical time saved Za’s life. ‘myla.

Za’myla was released from NICU after four months, and throughout that time Hill and Roan followed her progress, reading updates on Garrett’s Facebook page. They collected donations of diapers, clothes and other baby necessities, as well as gas cards to help Garrett and his partner on their long daily commute to visit Za’myla. Since she’s been home, Garrett has regularly taken Za’myla to visit Hill and Roan, and in March surprised them both by asking them to be godparents to her baby.

Hill and Roan said CMG they were touched and honored by his request. “All I can say is thank you a million times over because this is a blessing that God sent,” Garrett said. “They didn’t give up, so I feel like they will continue to do so later in life. [for Za’Myla].”