Asheville Woman’s Incredible Birth Story Amid Hurricane Helene
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a harrowing yet heartwarming tale, an Asheville woman found herself amidst chaos when Hurricane Helene unleashed its fury on the mountain where she lived. Courtney Mosser, who was set to have a planned C-section, discovered that even the best-laid plans can take unexpected turns when nature intervenes.
The Calm Before the Storm
At 40 weeks pregnant and eagerly anticipating her baby’s arrival, Courtney had scheduled her delivery for September 28. However, the day before, torrential rains from Hurricane Helene flooded Asheville, making it impossible for her to leave the mountain where her family resides. “We live 100 feet from the crest of the mountain, so pretty high up,” Courtney shared. “We did have some water. It was like the mountains were full, water was cascading down.”
A Community Comes Together
The torrential rains and subsequent flooding created a real challenge. According to Courtney, the roads had transformed. “The road was broken up by a river,” she described. “The neighborhood all came together and started filling it in to get us past, but when we got past that, there was a sinkhole that was 40 feet deep and maybe 4 feet of road left.” With landslides on every side and the threat of a natural disaster looming over them, Courtney and her family felt completely stranded.
The heartwarming part of this ordeal was the support from the local community. Neighbors, many of whom she hadn’t even met, jumped into action, rallying together to help. “They all started hearing about me and started gathering people who live on the mountain, a labor and delivery nurse, a paramedic,” she recalled. Through sheer determination, the word reached emergency services about her dire situation.
Helicopter Rescue
Dr. C.J. Atkinson, a doctor from Charlotte involved in mountain relief efforts, received an urgent message regarding a woman in critical need of medical attention. Contrary to his initial belief that Courtney was in active labor, he was relieved to find she was still stable. When he arrived, a state trooper had given him a lift through challenging conditions.
“A doctor and paramedic come out and they say, ‘Are you Courtney? We’re here to take you on the helicopter,’” she recounted. However, the moment did not come without emotional turmoil. “I said, ‘Can Justin and Dylan come?’ They said no, and that was the moment I lost it,” Courtney shared, fearing her husband would miss the birth of their child.
A Leap of Faith
It took some persuasion from Dr. Atkinson to convince her to leave. “I said to her, ‘Do you trust me?’” he recounted her reaction of uncertainty. “I need you to trust me and get on this helicopter because you have a tight window to get off this mountain and I’m not sure when we’ll be able to come back.” Ultimately, she trusted the doctor’s judgment.
Delivering Little Maya
With Asheville’s hospital running short on essential supplies due to the hurricane, she made the decision to head to Novant Health’s hospital in Charlotte to deliver little Maya. Miraculously, Justin and their 3-year-old son, Dylan, were able to join her after neighbors worked tirelessly to clear the road down the mountain.
A family in Charlotte offered them shelter for three weeks, opening their hearts and home to the Mosser family during their time of need. “We got in on Monday and by Tuesday evening they had a place for me to stay and the porch was filled with clothes for Dylan, clothes for me, and clothes for Maya,” Mosser said, feeling “overwhelmingly grateful” for the kindness they received.
A Bright Future
Now, with little Maya at just three weeks old, Courtney reflects on that incredible journey. “She was breech, came in with a hurricane, and then she was born on an eclipse,” she mentioned with a smile. “I feel like she’s going to be a pretty powerful little being, so I’ll tell her all that.” The family has since returned to their home in Asheville, where they look forward to sharing Maya’s unforgettable birth story with her in the years to come.
