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American Morning

Mother of San Francisco 'Breaker Baby' Describes the Experience

Aired May 22, 2001 - 11:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: San Francisco's Bay to Breakers foot race is the largest in the country. It's also one of the wackiest. Thousands of people take part each year. And you never know who is going to show up: people in costume, naked people.

This year's unexpected arrival was also the youngest participant ever -- it's safe to say -- a baby was born in a car right on the course near Golden Gate Park. The "Breaker Baby"'s amazing mom, Bernadette Lee, joins us by phone. She is still in hospital bed, yet is joining us to tell us the story.

Bernadette, congratulations. Thanks for joining us.

BERNADETTE LEE, MOTHER OF "BREAKER BABY": Thank you.

KAGAN: Now, explain to us how a woman as pregnant as you were ended up along the race course on Sunday morning.

Your husband has a long association with this race, is that right?

LEE: Yes, yes. My husband is one of the event organizers and has been doing it for 17 years.

KAGAN: So this is just an annual thing. It comes to that weekend before Memorial Day, you know the Lee family is going to be along the course.

LEE: Yes.

KAGAN: But, Bernadette, how pregnant were you on Sunday?

LEE: Very pregnant. My water broke on Sunday.

KAGAN: It did, even before you went to the course.

LEE: Yes.

KAGAN: So did it ever occur to you, Bernadette, this might not have been the brightest idea?

LEE: We figured we had a couple hours, you know? And this is an annual event for my husband and I. So, hey, it's a Bay to Breaker baby.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: How soon did you know that you might be in trouble here?

LEE: Well, we were in trouble as we were entering the park.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: You knew that this baby was coming.

LEE: She wanted to be there at the finish line before everybody else, yes.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: And so what did do you when you realized there was very little time?

LEE: We -- I was telling my husband to call somebody. And he goes, "Who? Who can we call?" So we just kept going.

KAGAN: So the baby was born in the car?

LEE: Yes. Yes.

KAGAN: Were you actually on your way to hospital or did he pull over?

LEE: Actually, no. We were on our way to the hospital. He didn't have time to pull over.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: And he ran a few red lights, as I understand.

LEE: Oh, quite a few.

KAGAN: And we are able to see pictures as we talk to you. Introduce us to the newest member of the Lee family.

LEE: Oh, her name is Vanessa Jasmine Lee.

KAGAN: Well, she is a beautiful little girl. And she was born in a hurry, but very healthy, as I understand it.

LEE: Yes. Yes. She's very healthy.

KAGAN: Very good. And any plans to celebrate her first birthday, also along

(CROSSTALK)

LEE: Absolutely. We will be there. Every year, we are there.

KAGAN: Very good. It will be hard to forget her birthday. LEE: Yes.

KAGAN: Well, congratulations to you and to Vanessa and to your husband and to the entire Lee family.

I participated in that race on Sunday. I had no idea a baby was...

LEE: You did?

KAGAN: Yes, I did. I came out for it special. I saw a lot of weird things, I will tell you that.

LEE: So you -- oh.

KAGAN: I did not see a baby being born. So I was intrigued with the story.

Congratulations.

LEE: Thank you.

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