Friends reconnect at St. Luke's McCall after delivering babies within an hour of each other

Niki (Carlson) Greig and Shannon (Vander Esch) Bolopue grew up together in Riggins and graduated from Salmon River High School in 2002.

They attended the same church, played on the same sports teams and served in student body government together: Greig was the student body president and Bolopue was the vice president.

After high school they remained close and were roommates at college in Lewiston.

As they began building their lives after college, as often happens, they grew apart and didn't see each other as often as they would have liked.

Greig now lives in Whitebird and Bolopue in New Meadows, leading busy lives with their families and children.

But sometimes, this world we live in has a way of bringing us together in the most unexpected ways.

Greig and Bolopue both delivered baby girls within an hour of each other at St. Luke's McCall Medical Center on June 30. Bolopue delivered her daughter Katie Jo at 3:17 a.m. and Greig delivered her daughter Garrity Mae at 4:15 a.m.

Dr. Maureen “Mo” Ferguson, St. Luke’s Clinic - Payette Lakes Family Medicine, a Grangeville High School graduate, delivered both newborns.

“It was pretty cool and special having Dr. Ferguson deliver our babies, since we all grew up in Idaho County,” Bolopue said.

The pair knew each other was expecting, as they ran into each other during a prenatal doctor's appointment at St. Luke's family medicine clinic in McCall. Their due dates were a few weeks apart.

But Bolopue delivered early, and Greig was late, leading them to deliver on the same day.

Bolopue said she knew there was another woman in labor at the hospital that morning.

“It made me wonder if it was Niki, so I texted her, and found out she was across the hallway,” Bolopue said.

The childhood friends were able to connect after delivering their daughters.

“It was really special that we had our babies on the same day, made even more special that we both had girls,” Greig said.

Greig and Bolopue always had a special connection when they were growing up and now they have two new reasons to celebrate their friendship as they raise their families.