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University of Colorado Hospital
Baby Hugo was born at 7:11 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
AURORA, Colo. – He’s the tiny miracle after the tragedy of Aurora.
Hugo Jackson Medley was born at 7:11 a.m. local time on Tuesday, according to University of Colorado Hospital spokesman Dan Weaver. Both mother and child are doing well.
His mother, Katie Medley, escaped the Colorado movie theater attack uninjured, but her husband, Caleb, is in the same hospital in a medically-induced coma fighting for his life.
High school sweethearts
High school sweethearts, Katie and Caleb Medley started dating during their senior year in the small town of Florence, Colo., according to their close friend Michael West, who has become their family spokesman.
“You could just tell that out of everyone in the world, these two were meant for each other,” West wrote on a website dedicated to Caleb that he created to raise money to cover his friend’s medical bills. As of Tuesday afternoon, the website has had 2,600 donors who have given about $90,000.
TODAY
Katie Medley, who was nine-months pregnant when she was at the movie theater where the Aurora shooting happened, delivered her son, Hugo, on Tuesday morning. Her husband, Caleb, right, is in critical condition in the hospital from gun shot wounds sustained during the attack.
In eighth grade, Caleb, now 23, decided he wanted to be a standup comedian. So after he and Katie, 21, got married they moved to Denver, where he could chase his dream.
In an Internet video titled “Caleb Saves the Internet: Saving the One Nighter,” he chronicles life on the road as a struggling comic.
He jokes about staying in a seedy motel room with a busted deadbolt and stains on the wall. But Caleb was making progress. Last Wednesday night, he performed stand up at the New Faces Contest at Comedy Works South in Denver, according to the Denver Post. He did well enough to advance to the next round of a comedy festival.
It was to be a big week for the couple. Not only was Caleb getting comedy gigs, but he was about to become a father. Katie, a veterinary student, was nine months pregnant and her doctor planned to induce labor on Monday, July 23.
One last date night
Katie and Caleb decided to treat themselves to one last night out before they needed a babysitter. Even though she was nine months pregnant, they were huge Batman fans and they were not going to miss opening night.
NBC's Kate Snow reports on the shooting suspects court appearance Monday, as well as the status of some of the shooting victims, including Caleb Medley.
"They had Batman apparel on. They waited for this movie for over a year,” said David Sanchez, Katie Medley’s father.
“They were having the normal opening night movie experience,” their friend Michael West wrote, recounting a conversation he had with Katie. “They stood anxiously in line, spent too much on popcorn and soda, suffered through the movie trailers and watched the beginning of the movie. That is when evil struck.”
“I thought it was a prank at first or someone playing along with the movie,” Katie told him, West writes. “Then he opened fire.”
Caleb was shot in the face. He was put in the back of a police cruiser and driven to University of Colorado hospital. The website says he has lost his right eye, suffered brain damage and is in a medically-induced coma.
Katie’s father, Sanchez, was at the Arapahoe County courthouse Monday to see the man he blames for ruining what was supposed to be a joyous time for the family. He said his daughter had asked him to come since she was in no state to attend herself.
“When it’s your own daughter and she escaped death by just mere seconds, I would say, it really makes you angry,” he told a group of reporters outside the courthouse where the shooting suspect James Eagan Holmes made a brief appearance Monday.
Asked about his son-in-law, Caleb, he said, “He's in critical but stable condition, so we're praying for him. I think the main concern is him right now, and the baby being born.”
Like many of the young 20-somethings at the movies that terrible night, the Medleys have no health insurance, according to their friend West.
“Caleb and his family have no insurance, and these hospital bills are going to be well into the hundreds if not thousands if not millions. Caleb and Katie will be struggling with these hospital bills for the rest of their lives,” West wrote on the website.
In two remarkable stories of survival, one woman saves the life of her best friend, and a father protects his son's girlfriend after she was badly wounded. NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports.
Related content from NBCNews.com:
- Lessons learned aid Aurora response, but were warnings signs unheeded?
- Aurora shootings: 911 dispatcher recalls night of horror
- Lung transplant didn’t come from Colo. victims
- Hero amid the bullets: The power of female friendship
- Shocked Aurora vows, 'We will remember' victims of theater shooting
- Aurora pastor: 'I don't know' why God allowed theater slaughter
Leave a Comment:
First off...ignore all the haters on this site!!! Congrats Katie and Caleb on the birth of your precious baby. Thank God you were able to give birth to a healthy baby when the outcome could have been beyond so much worse. Second Prayers to Caleb, that his recovery and healing come fast and furious!!!! Many people who live here in the Denver Metro are praying for all the victims and feeling the pain of this tragedy. Do not let the haters rain on your happiness and pour salt into your wounds. God has your back and it will all be OK.... HOPE is the greatest of ALL!!!!
I guess everyone has a right to an opinion so here is mine. Caleb was trying his hand at stand up comedy. Maybe this was a dream of his. Dreams usually do not come with health insurance. I know mine doesn't. I am an author, I write thrilling, thought provoking love stories. While I am trying to make my dreams come true, I work hard at my profession as a hairstylist, which by the way does not offer any health insurance either. I am a single mother with a dream for a better life for me and my daughter. Maybe Caleb and his wife were looking for something better. After all isn't this what is declared for all of us in the Declaration of Independence? We have the right of pursuit. In the midst of Caleb's pursuit his family were victims of a horrific tragedy. I have no answers other than be careful when you judge another person lest you end up in the same circumstances.
It is good to know that a healthy baby came out of all this misery. I hope and pray that Caleb will recover and not be disabled. That he will be here to raise his child. The more stories I hear about this tragedy, the more hatred and contempt I feel for the creep who ruined so many lives.
PLEASE stop putting the picture of this murderer on every story.
I agree. I scrolled fast past it so as to not have to look at it. Put the baby's face up instead.
Can't believe people are going to make this a shameless plug for Obama's free $hit courtesy of the middle working class. How will they pay this bill? Let's be real, law suits, donations, I would be presently more concerned for his life. I am on a separate note curious about a family growing itself with no means to afford even the birth of the child in the first place.
I think it is the perfect place to put in a plug for ACA.....at least the President cares about people, unlike the insurance industry and the rest of the FOR PROFIT healthcare industry....like rich docs and their mansions.
I'm not sure which part to laugh at- your assumption that Obama cares about people- are you saying presidents don't normally do this? Or your issue with "Rich docs" who spent an entire decade of their young lives making something of themselves. More power to them. All business have to "profit" to exist, That's the reality.
mr. binkie - no obama care. I do NOT want to pay for you losers insurance. I have my own. f u leftie's right in the ASS. if you think i need the goverment ruining another gov. contolled problem. F U IDIOTS. government can not run a thing. they will steal from it to pay for something else. Take it from all the illegals you stupid f's. I own a business and all my workers have their own insurance. stop the madness!! government out of controlling our lives!
I pray for Caleb!
Will you idiots EVER stop with your stupid political crap on every single post that has nothing to do with politics? Will you EVER stop dividing this country? This has nothing to do with liberal, conservative, or moderates. This has to do with human beings! Can you just be an human being - just one time?
Bad things happen to good people, while this is so tragic for the both of them and now the baby who will have to grow up with a father who may not be able to get a good job because of a handicap why didn't he have a job with a baby on the way, he would have had medical insurance hopefully to cover most if not all of the medical bills. Seems to me they were just taking it one day at a time not looking to far into their future. Maybe if she finishes her studies they will be able to make ends meet.
God please bless Caleb from his coma so he can see his baby born. May he come through ordeal with flyiing colors. His wife and baby are find. Congrats on getting out of the building or we would not be having Hugo. Cute name by the way. May you. your child and husband come through this. God is on your side. Amen
People just keep getting nastier with their comments. They complain that this couple should have had insurance, should have stayed home, should have, should have , should have. This country doesn't take care of the middle class. If you are really poor you get free medical care or at least really low cost, if you are like Magic Underwear Richie Rich Romney you have nothing to worry about- the best of the best, no waiting for
approvals, etc. But if you are like the rest of us, you have to choose, either I pay my co-pay or I pay a bill late.
All of the victims, whether they have insurance or not, need to be taken care of. I am so sick and tired of the attitude "I have mine, screw you if you don't have yours".
Hooray jamie.......when did this country get this way? Hate , hate and more hate.....you can feel it in the air. Unsettling
Jaime not so cut and dry. Sorry, Obama is rich too...newsflash.
Srich, I don't give a rip about who is rich and who isn't. President Obama is rich, so are all the folks in congress, so is my husband's back surgeon. Great for them. My problem is with people who are selfish and blame victims for their predicaments. Yes, sometimes people get what they deserve and sometimes good people get things they don't deserve, like the people that just wanted a night out at the movies. I just think there is a lot of selfish nastiness and I pray for people, all people. Now do you understand where I was coming from-seems pretty cut and dry to me.
Jamie relax, the very beginning of this thread began with Pro Obamacare remarks. Don't pretend we don't care about victims, and get off your high horse and stop pretending you are the only one with compassion and prayers. in your own words..
I think you give a little "rip" Jamie because you took a swing at Romney. Did you put your foot in your own mouth?
what a group of amazingly insensitive people!!!!...this poor guy may not live and will certainly NEVER be the same with brain damage and you fools are talking about health insurance!..wondering why he didn't have any,wondering why they are having a baby...you fools should rot in h-ll.
Please stop making this murderer out to be a hero by immoralizing him and including his picture with the story. Show the dead. show the wounded, show the living. Show the carnage but don't show the shooter. And don't make excuses for him. I know several people who are bipolar and all own guns - yet we are all medicated abide by our medical regime and don't go shooting up innocent people while we have rainbow Sherbet colored hair. Get his picture out of the media!
98% the people who comment on these articles are extremely ignorant... so I'm kicking myself for doing this. However, I'd like to point out ONE thing before forgetting I did this.
Medical coverage costs hundreds if not thousands of dollars per year. Not included out of pocket expenses. A movie night out probably cost them a ONE time price of $60 bucks (or less) and you people are gonna prosecute them for having one last night to themselves because they don't have insurance!? Some people...
I would like these haters on here to just call an insurance company and get a quote on a policy that includes pregnancy coverage. It will shut your mouth forever on the very idea.
Seriously? How is this a miracle? Sounds like a writer reaching at straws to get and article published.
Okay for all you lamebrains on this page...........she was there too, her husband was critically injured, it is a miracle she was not injured or killed too. Geeez, what the hell is the matter with you people?
It's a miracle I didn't scratch my cornea with that hang nail I woke up with! It's a miracle I didn't stub my toe on that last step earlier today! Everything is a miracle.
Jim - You are showing your narcissism. You have no heart, no soul, no understanding, no empathy for other human beings, and a teeny weeny brain to go with your losses. My sympathies to you and your family.
Could you be the next shooter? You are fitting the profile, at least to some degree.
Really? I fit the profile? You're an idiot...
This is so tragic seeing a young father in critical condition while his wife is giving birth. It's disgusting that they put the face of this monster killer on the same page as these innocent victims. They'll be paying beyond medical bills if Caleb never fully recovers while this monster will be probably be give a life sentence at taxpayers support.
Just looking at them, I just hope and pray that they can raise their son together.
Good post.
This has nothing to do with politics or anything else.
Not sure how this turned into a debate about health insurance.....as a Denver resident I just hope that this young family draws strength from all that care about them and that this precious little one gets to meet his daddy soon. I did not see anywhere in this story that they were not going to be responsible for their own medical bills related to the pregnancy and birth of their son. Many people without health insurance have babies. If they are uncomplicated pregnancies requiring a short hospital stay families are able to pay the hospital in installments. Let's not rush to judge. I am thankful that I have health insurance at the present time but know that can change in an instant as I have seen happen to many friends and family members through no fault of their own. So easy to preach when it is not you. As far as the comment that they should not be out when 9 months pregnant get a grip! One's life does not stop due to pregnancy - I remember being past my due date and doing everything I could to keep active so I would go into labor - doctor's advice.
My God people!!!! Lay the @!$%# off! Life happens when you're making other plans. That being said, I have Bipolar Disorder and for a long time, I had no insurance. Luckily my parents are in the bracket Barry wants to tax the hell out of and they were able to help me.
Now I am fortunate enough to have amazing insurance. If I didn't, at least one of my meds would be $1,100 a month. I wonder what the mentally ill with no insurance do? Oh, that's right. Many live on the streets. Stop attacking this couple for being young and free spirited. No, they shouldn't have had a kid with no insurance. But sometimes babies come unplanned.
As for this massacre, it is horrendous and things like this will continue to happen. But gun control won't stop it. I truly believe this young boy is SEVERELY mentally ill and now, because of that, his life is over. And because of it, the lives of 12 innocents are over. It is tragic all the way around. PEACE.
I had my first child with no insurance and actually lived through it! Image that.
Of course its a miracle, the doctors and nurses did nothing but stand by and watch.........idiots.
Welcome to the world baby Hugo.
I will pray every day for the safe and full recovery of Caleb! I cannot imagine how stressful this situation is for this young woman and her baby. I bet she is scared and could use support.
Please take the murderer's nasty picture down!!
God bless Caleb and his family and pray for a speedy recovery!!
No one "has" to be without health insurance. You budget for it. You make HAVING HEALTH INSURANCE your main priority. By sacricing in other areas if you HAVE TO. Indeed - you don't get married in my opinion if you cannot afford health insurance.
This case is tragic for the reasons surrounding a random viscious attack that was perpetrated against this young mother and her husband. But they could have been injured in a car accident or lost in a storm or a whole host of other tragic circumstances - all of which require one to proactively HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
The debt they are incuring the could sue to attempt to recoup from the suspect - but it is not society's responsibility to pay for any of this. Not one bit.
There are people who just can't afford insurance and it is not offered by their employer.
This pink haired Bozo piece of scum has got to pay for what he did to so many innocent people. He thinks he was fooling everyone with that "I'm out of my mind" act that he served up yesterday but he is not going to walk on this. The down side for him is that even if he is declared insane, I do believe that someone is going to take it upon themselves to off this POS just to even up the score. He also has to worry about ending up in the joint because from the minute he sets foot into the place, he will be considered a prized target and one that will afford much street cred so in a matter of speaking he will be a dead man walking. The crazy part about this whole things is that he is probably going to be safer in jail than he would be out on the street because so many folks have it hard for this guy that he wouldn't last a New York minute in the entire state of Colorado. You would have to get in line to get your shots in at the low life because that's what the pay back is going to be all about.
What this man did was horrendous and NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. Did no one notice the 6,000 rounds of ammunition he purchased over a period of months? But I maintain this is not black and white. Human behaviour rarely is.
I don't believe he is evil despite what he did. i personally believe he is psychotic and severely mentally ill. This does not excuse the horror he brought upon the people of Aurora. But I saw a video of him at 18 years old giving a speech. He was jovial, sociable and happy. He was "NORMAL". The age he is now is when most males develop severe mental illness. I feel so sorry for the victims and survivors. But my heart also goes out to him. An eye for an eye makes everyone blind.
I wish the best for this, and all of the, shooting victims, but give me a break. A student and an aspiring comedian who have no health insurance decide to have a baby, that's just plain wrong. The medical bills incurred by the tragic shooting incident were unforeseeable but getting pregnant is something you do on purpose or out of sheer stupidity. To plan a baby or to not do everything in your power to keep from getting caught short by unplanned pregnancy when you have no insurance and cannot afford to properly care for a child is irresponsible to the max but it seems to happen more each day as our entitlement society seems to believe they have a right to anything they need or want even if they don't make the right decisions or take the steps necessary to afford those things. I am just sick ant tired of footing the bill for their greed with my life energy. And, before you condemn me for my cold remarks at a time like this go back up and read the article. They are the ones who opened the political thing up by even mentioning the lack of insurance in a back door way of promoting socialized medicine...at least that's how I read it.
While I agree people need to be more responsible, this is a free country. I personally am using the 10 year Copper IUD as birth control. I paid for it out of my own pocket. It costs nearly $600. Totally worth it. My husband and I are 99% sure we don't want kids. And we have damn good insurance and both have great jobs. That's not a good enough reason to have kids.
That being said, I work in an OB/Gyn's office. I see lower class people ALL THE TIME come in having their third and fourth child. Many of them have MEDICAID. However, even the ones with insurance somehow cheat the system and end up on MEDICAID. Drives me batty. Can't feed them. Don't breed them.
In a Repugnican world, it seems this is destined to become the way to pay heavy medical bills. Consequently, whether or not you live may well be determined by an Internet-wide popularity contest. I can see a niche business arising to set up and promote personal sites begging for medical donations. That's the kind of free enterprise and inventiveness the Repugnicans must like.