Illinois Woman Gives Birth on Shoulder of I-88

Hospital spokesman says mom and baby are doing well

This isn't exactly how Elizabeth and Ray Shishkoff envisioned the delivery of their first baby.

The Glen Ellyn couple was on the way to Elmhurst Hospital when Elizabeth Shishkoff's contractions became too overwhelming. Her husband pulled to the shoulder of eastbound I-88 just before 4 a.m. and called police.

State Police and the York Center Fire Protection District responded to the scene, but by the time emergency medical services arrived, Ray Shishkoff had delivered Charlotte River, 7 pounds, 20 inches, at 4:05 a.m.

"Charlotte just came out and luckily there weren't any complications," he said.

The baby was in her mother's arms and doing well by the time paramedics arrived.

"My feet were on the dashboard and then Ray was kind of out of the car and kind of stuck his head in front of me," Elizabeth Shishkoff said.

"I was just trying to get through it," she said.

Ray Shishkoff appears on the baby's birth certificate twice, as Charlotte's father and the person who delivered her.

Contact Us