When Sha’nya Bennett from Alabama discovered she was expecting her second child, she never imagined that nine months later, Krispy Kreme would be on her baby’s birth certificate.

However, when a severe winter storm hit the South last week, the 23-year-old mom found herself unable to reach the hospital as she began experiencing contractions the day before her due date. With no other option, she and her partner pulled into an empty Krispy Kreme parking lot, where she gave birth to their son, Dallas.

“The icy roads and snow made our drive much longer. We were on our way to the hospital, but we didn’t make it in time. My water broke in the car, and Dallas started to come out,” Bennett explained to YSL News on Tuesday.

While waiting at a stoplight next to Krispy Kreme, Bennett felt her son’s head. That’s when Dallas’ father, Keon Mitchell, quickly pulled over. Guided by a 911 operator over the phone, Mitchell successfully helped deliver their son in the parking lot before help could arrive. In the backseat, their four-year-old son, Legend, was witnessing this unexpected moment.

“I felt like I was in a movie; I had no idea what was happening. It was pure panic. I was screaming in the car while my son was in the back asking to play games on my phone. It was just so much chaos,” Bennett reflected.

’We’ve got to get to the hospital’

Bennett and Mitchell were desperate to reach the hospital as contractions began, but the intense pain made it difficult for Bennett. She recalled Mitchell urging her, “I don’t want to have a baby at home.”

However, the severe weather with snow, black ice, and frigid temperatures made their trip to the hospital extremely challenging. The storm caused significant snowfall, breaking century-old records across several southern states.

“As soon as we got in the car, he was trying to keep me calm, telling me ‘we’re going to make it to the hospital,’ but I kept insisting ‘no, we’re not,'” Bennett shared.

In stark contrast to her first child, Legend, who was born with an epidural, Bennett endured the painful contractions without any pain relief.

“The contractions were the most excruciating part. Once I started pushing, I can barely remember the feeling; I just blanked out. The contractions were the hardest for me,” she added.

Krispy Kreme to celebrate Dallas’ birthday every year

Despite the whirlwind of events, everything ended up well with the healthy birth of their son.

Not only is this unique experience etched in the couple’s memories, but it is also recorded on Dallas’s birth certificate, where “Krispy Kreme” is listed as his birthplace, and Mitchell is named as the person who delivered him.

Krispy Kreme’s Chief Growth Officer Dave Skena expressed excitement about the family’s well-being and mentioned that this marks the first known birth certificate with the Krispy Kreme name on it.

In a jubilant gesture, Krispy Kreme plans to turn this memorable event into a yearly celebration, hosting a birthday party for Dallas every year until he grows up. They will also provide the family with free donuts for a year and officially declare January 22 a holiday at Krispy Kreme.

“We aim to spread joy and sweetness, but welcoming Dallas at a Krispy Kreme during a rare snowstorm might just be the sweetest event ever,” Skena told YSL News.