Another day at Lily’s Seafood in Royal Oak, Michigan, turned out to be a very exciting day when Alyse and Sean Sparkman reserved their table — and an unexpected delivery occurred.
The Sparkmans had been going about their business, but that day, April 27th, was special. They were expecting their new daughter to be born soon, as Alyse was about 37 weeks along. Alyse had experienced some contractions earlier in the day, but the hospital decided she could be sent home since labor was not progressing. To kill some time on that evening, the couple paid a visit to their favorite seafood spot, Lily’s Seafood, thinking they were going to have a meal… but the Sparkmans’ baby had other plans.
With her trout salad in front of her and only one forkful tasted, Alyse proclaimed that her water had broken.
Sean recalled, “She took one bite and goes, ‘My water’s breaking! Go get the car!’”
But Sean was about to receive two surprises — he hadn’t even finished bringing up the car when his daughter made her entrance into the world, right in the restaurant seating!
In an interview with Today, Sean explained the situation was a rapid mix of emotions to handle in just five minutes: “I’m sitting at a light and she calls me and says, ‘I had the baby.’ I was like, ‘Oh no, I can’t believe I missed it. I feel so bad,’ and she goes, ‘Don’t be sad, just get here!’”
As Alyse was delivering her daughter, she realized they had been providentially seated near two retired nurses and an infant phlebotomist. Stepping in when they realized the situation, the team quickly unwrapped the umbilical cord from the baby’s neck and gave immediate attention to Alyse, who remembers her daughter coming out in a purple hue.
The whole restaurant had been holding their breath for the couple, and as soon as the baby girl was born, they all cheered and rejoiced. Once Sean arrived on the scene, he got to share in the excitement. Sean remembers people saying, “Good job Mom! Great job Mom!” And also an elderly gentleman leaning out to say, “Great job Dad,” giving Sean a thumbs up.
In the end, the couple decided to name their daughter Penelope Lily, in honor of her birthplace. “It really worked out because we had originally chosen Danielle, but we weren’t crazy about it,” Sean told Today. “We both love Lily.”
Little Penelope has had a plaque placed in her honor at the restaurant to remember the table where she made her “reservation” known.
