Starbucks Barista Helps Deliver Baby—And They Reunite Almost 20 Years Later

Lisabeth Rohlck gave birth to her baby boy in a Starbucks bathroom. She wasn't supposed to go into labor for a few more weeks. The event was a shock to Starbucks employees and people all over the world.

Recently, one employee organized a meeting with the teen that he had helped bring into the world all those years ago.

Babies Don't Always Come As Expected

woman staring at her baby as they touch noses
Photo Credit: Ana Tablas / Unsplash
Photo Credit: Ana Tablas / Unsplash

Even though babies are typically born at the hospital, there are tons of crazy, surprising birth stories out there.

One woman gave birth in a Starbucks with the help of a customer and an employee. This is her story.

ADVERTISEMENT

Back In 2002

ADVERTISEMENT
picture of starbucks coffee exterior
Photo Credit: TR / Unsplash
Photo Credit: TR / Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

On August 20, 2002, 21-year-old Griffin Baron was working as a barista.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was a typical day until he sold a woman named Lisabeth Rohlck a bottle of water. After she went to the bathroom, neither knew that both of their lives would change forever.

ADVERTISEMENT

Screams Coming From The Bathroom

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
clean, white coloured public bathroom
Photo Credit: Jan Antonin Kolar / Unsplash
Photo Credit: Jan Antonin Kolar / Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

A customer at the shop became alarmed when they heard screams coming from the bathroom.

ADVERTISEMENT

Griffin called 9-1-1, then went to the bathroom to see what was happening. When he got inside, he was in for a big surprise.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lisabeth Was Giving Birth

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
woman holding her pregnant belly with two hands
Photo Credit: Jan Antonin Kolar / Unsplash
Photo Credit: Jan Antonin Kolar / Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Lisabeth—the woman that Griffin had just sold the water to—was sitting on the floor, clearly in pain.

ADVERTISEMENT

Griffin saw that she was in the process of giving birth to her baby!

ADVERTISEMENT

Griffin Knew He Had To Help

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
close up of two people holding one another's hands
Photo Credit: Markus Spiske / Unsplash
Photo Credit: Markus Spiske / Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Even though Griffin had no medical experience, he jumped into action.

ADVERTISEMENT

In an interview, he claimed that he knew virtually nothing about delivering babies. But even though he couldn't help her with the delivery, Griffin remained by the woman's side. The customer who had heard the screams was also in the bathroom.

ADVERTISEMENT

It Was A Quick Delivery

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
photo of video clip of lisabeth holding her newborn baby boy and smiling
Photo Credit: Youtube / Griffin Baron
Photo Credit: Youtube / Griffin Baron
ADVERTISEMENT

The baby came only four minutes after they had first heard her screaming. Lisabeth gave birth to a baby boy.

ADVERTISEMENT

An ambulance crew soon arrived and took Rohlck and her newborn baby to the hospital for further medical attention.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Story Became Widely Known

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
close up photograph of baby Jonathan
Photo Credit: Youtube / Griffin Baron
Photo Credit: Youtube / Griffin Baron
ADVERTISEMENT

This crazy, inspirational story received tons of media attention. Several news outlets interviewed Griffin, the new mom, and Trisha (the customer) about that remarkable day.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lisabeth was only 37 weeks pregnant when she began feeling cramps. She thought nothing of it and decided to use the bathroom at Starbucks, but her baby had other plans.

ADVERTISEMENT

Griffin Always Wondered What Had Happened To The Baby

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
couple walking outside barefoot holding their baby's hands
Photo Credit: Jakob Owens / Unsplash
Photo Credit: Jakob Owens / Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Today, Griffin is a 40-year-old father of two. He said that he often thought about the little boy and Lisabeth.

ADVERTISEMENT

He would find himself wondering about who the little boy grew up to be.

ADVERTISEMENT

He Was Saddened To Learn That Lisabeth Had Passed

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
shot of a casket about to be lowered into the ground at a funeral
Photo Credit: Rhodi Lopez / Unsplash
Photo Credit: Rhodi Lopez / Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

So one day, he decided to do a little online digging. Eventually, he came across a GoFundMe page, where he learned that Lisabeth died from breast cancer in 2012.

ADVERTISEMENT

Her husband, Thomas Celner, had also recently passed away.

ADVERTISEMENT

Griffin Left A Comment

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
person using macbook computer
Photo Credit: Priscilla Du Preez / Unsplash
Photo Credit: Priscilla Du Preez / Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Griffin donated to the family and left a comment explaining that he was the barista who was present at Jonathan's birth.

ADVERTISEMENT

He added that he would love to be able to talk with him.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Two Decided To Meet

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
starbucks logo
Photo Credit: Henry & Co. / Unsplash
Photo Credit: Henry & Co. / Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

After speaking with Jonathan's aunt, Griffin was so happy when he found Jonathan on Facebook. He knew he had to reach out.

ADVERTISEMENT

They decided to meet back in March, at the same Starbucks where it all began.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Two Reunited

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Griffin and Jonathan smiling beside one another inside a starbucks
Photo Credit: Instagram
Photo Credit: Instagram
ADVERTISEMENT

Griffin was so happy to finally meet the baby that he had helped bring into the world.

ADVERTISEMENT

In an interview, Jonathan (now 18 years old) said that his mom would always tell him the story and would say how insane those next few weeks were for her—just a total media circus. When Griffin reached out, the story came full circle.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jonathan Loves The Story

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

"The story always reminded me of my mom, which I really enjoy," Celner told Good Morning America.

ADVERTISEMENT

He notes that his mom was an amazing, tough person who enjoyed acting. I mean, you do have to be pretty brave to give birth in a Starbucks bathroom!

ADVERTISEMENT

After The Meeting

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
VHS video sleeve shot against a stark white background
Photo Credit: Mishaal Zahed / Unsplash
Photo Credit: Mishaal Zahed / Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

After their meeting, Griffin digitized all of his own mom's VHS footage from that day and sent it to Jonathan.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The day he was born was a life-changing experience for me (and obviously him)," Griffin wrote on Instagram. “Not only was it great meeting him, but I gained a new friend out of it, too.”