A Marlborough Township Police Officer was recognized last week for his role in giving a three-month-old baby a new lease on life.

        Ofc. Andrew Curtis had been on the job for just shy of three years when he got a call he said he won't soon forget.  He was on patrol around 8:52 p.m. Jan. 11 when he was dispatched to a township address for an unresponsive infant.

        "Anytime you have a baby involved it heightens your senses, your heart beats faster," he said. 

        Curtis, who said he was met at the home's door by the baby's mother, rushed in to find the father trying to resuscitate the child.  He was attempting to follow directions for CPR from Montgomery County 911 Dispatcher Esther Davis Varady.  The baby's skin was blue and Curtis said he couldn't detect breathing or find a pulse.

        The infant reportedly aspirated vomit and choked, authorities said. 

        While he performed back blows and chest thrusts, Curtis said the baby suddenly began to cry.  He said he patted and monitored the baby until EMS arrived. 

        "Obviously I was overwhelmed with relief," Curtis said of the moment the baby showed signs of life.  "It was the most serious call I've ever had."

        He said the baby's parents, who couldn't thank him enough, were overwhelmed by the fact that their daughter was still alive and that he was able to get to the scene so quickly.

        Harleysville/Green Lane Ambulance transported the baby to Grand View Hospital for treatment.

The next day Curtis said he was able to do a rare follow-up and found out the baby was given a clean bill of health. 

        "It was great to see everybody was okay and that the parents were getting back to normalcy," he said.  "You never know with this job.  One of the reasons I got into this job was knowing that every day would be different. 

        "You are trained for these types of incidents and I relied on that training and fortunately the outcome was successful."

        Curtis was awarded Marlborough Police Department's medal of valor for his actions that day at a Feb. 11 township meeting.  He said while he was surprised he was given the department's highest honor, and that he was doing the job he was hired to do, it felt good to be thanked.

        "You do know this is a different situation and not something that happens all the time," he said.  "I was able to take a minute and reflect on that."   

        The 26-year-old officer's wife, mother and aunt from New Hampshire, along with officers from his own and area police departments, attended the meeting to recognize Curtis' "outstanding act of heroism," characterized by Marlborough Police Chief Darren Morgan.

        Varady, a 25-year dispatcher from Montgomery County who lives in neighboring Red Hill, was also recognized by the department for her actions that day.  She was given a certificate of commendation.

        Varady, while unable to be reached for comment this week, was applauded by Jennifer Cass, the assistant director for professional standards for Montgomery County Public Communications on Tuesday.

        "That type of call is what we classify as a high-risk, high-stress, low-frequency call," she said of the case of an unresponsive infant with no pulse.  "During the call you just want to get the caller help quickly and efficiently.

        "Most times the call-takers have a hard time processing it afterward and often they don't have closure," she said, noting that in this case, Varady happily found out via Facebook the next day that the baby was okay. 

        Cass said she remembers the conversation with Varady vividly.

        "She was ecstatic and it was very emotional for her.  It was so very close to home."

While the baby's parents chose not to attend last Wednesday's event, and authorities said they expressed they want their privacy and to move on, maybe someday they will choose to tell their daughter about what happened.

The story of the day, before she could crawl or even say her first word, that a Marlborough police officer answered a call and saved her little life.