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Hartford council honors firefighters who resuscitated infant Alina Delorbe
Summary
The Court of Common Council presented citations and a proclamation April 15 to four Hartford Fire Department members who resuscitated newborn Alina Delorbe after a February 14, 2024, emergency; family members and firefighters described the call and recovery.
Council members on the Court of Common Council presented citations and a city proclamation April 15 to four Hartford Fire Department personnel and to baby Alina Delorbe after a February 14, 2024, emergency in which firefighters resuscitated the infant.
The family of the child described the episode and thanked the crew. Francesca Roman, Alina’s mother, told the council that when Alina was two weeks old on Feb. 14, 2024, “she stopped breathing” and that the child “went purple.” Roman said she was hysterical but recalled Firefighter Justin Ford arriving with an oxygen tank and Lieutenant Nelson Viera and the crew providing life‑saving care.
The council’s recognition included citations for Lieutenant Nelson Viera, Firefighter Justin Ford, Firefighter Evan Seals and Firefighter Samuel Caraballo and a proclamation for Alina. Councilman Miguel Hernandez introduced the family and the firefighters and invited Roman to summarize the incident for the chamber.
Lieutenant Nelson Viera, speaking for the crew, described the response: the baby “had no pulse, was not breathing” when they arrived and “within, I wouldn't say 3 or 4 minutes, we got a pulse back. We got a heart rate back.” Viera said the crew continued CPR and oxygen until ambulance personnel were on scene and that they rode with the family to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Viera said the crew later learned Alina celebrated her first birthday and that the visit to the firehouse on Feb. 14 moved the team emotionally.
Several council members praised the firefighters. Council President Shirley Surgeon said the rescue “is what you do for a living…this is how you serve the residents of the city of Hartford.” The council recorded the ceremonial presentation during its April 15 meeting; no formal ordinance or budget action was associated with the citations.
The family and council members also noted that the city and state delegations provided additional proclamations. State Representative Jimmy Sanchez and the Hartford state delegation were cited by a council speaker as having provided proclamations for the firefighters.
The council meeting record shows the citation text commending Lieutenant Viera, Ford, Seals and Caraballo for “unwavering courage, skill and professionalism” during the Feb. 14, 2024, response. The presentation closed with council members and the family taking photos and wishing Alina a happy first birthday.
