Police visit baby they helped deliver on Philadelphia subway

PHILADELPHIA – Little Kris Li is the talk of the town.

His mom, Yanjin Li, beamed with pride Friday afternoon while talking about her son’s much publicized entrance into the world Christmas night on a Philadelphia transit train.

“Thank you to everyone who helped,” an exhausted Li, 27, said during a bedside interview in Hahnemann University Hospital. “It was so scary.”

Li started getting contractions Thursday afternoon, around the time other families were sitting down to Christmas dinner. She and her husband, Binqing, 28, hopped aboard an El train near their West Philly home and were rushing to Hahnemann.

But as the crowded train rattled toward Center City, Li’s contractions started getting more intense.

Just before 6 p.m., Li’s pain reached its zenith.

“Philly, my baby is coming,” she screamed.

Kris couldn’t wait any longer.

“I didn’t know what to do; the baby was just coming out,” Li said.

Thanks to some quick-thinking passengers and two diligent SEPTA Transit Police Officers, Li’s bundle of joy was delivered safely at the 15th Street El stop, across the street from the City Hall of his new hometown.

Those officers, Sgt. Daniel Caban and Officer Darrell James, visited Li on Friday in her room to check in on the family.

Kris’ parents, who moved to Philadelphia about eight years ago from their native Fujian, China, are doing well and looking forward to taking their son home.

But why Kris? Well, that’s an easy one, according to Li.

“He was born on Christmas,” she said with a smile. “It seemed like the right thing to do.”