Tina Aparicio who arrived in the UK as part of the Windrush generation delivered 2,000 babies during her career – including one who later came to her aid as a paramedic. She is now celebrating her 100th birthday.
An “exceptional” midwife who delivered 2,000 babies, including one who later rushed to her aid as a paramedic, will be turning 100 years old this week.
Albertina Aparicio, known as Tina, arrived in Plymouth from Trinidad as part of the Windrush generation in 1958. After a district nurse in Tilbury, Essex, recognised her potential, she took up a position as a general nurse but eventually fell in love with midwifery focusing on home births.
During her time, the now great grandmother says she cared for an aristocrat named Lady Antonia Erskine, as well as meeting Winston Churchill’s daughters who came to visit the family. But after battling illness in the last 10 years, Tina’s son, John Aparicio says he is ‘relieved’ she’ll make it to the age of 100 as he’s had to “hold her hand” thinking she was “about to go.”
In a “bittersweet” moment, John says the paramedic who attended realised Tina had been the midwife who brought him into the world. He said: “The ambulance was called and when they arrived, the paramedic recognised my mother’s last name and said, ‘Is that Tina Aparicio who delivered me?’, and she said, ‘yes, my name is Tina Aparicio.’
Fortunately, John who says his mum has taught him lessons about resilience always “bounces back”. “She just bounces back every time. She never gives up. To be honest, it’s a total relief, it’s amazing. It’s pretty phenomenal really”, he said.
“I know the battles she’s been through. I know that’s her goal to reach 100. It’s what she’s been aiming for. She’s so determined to make that number.” Last year, the 99-year-old who had retired in 1991, received an award from the Mayor of Thurrock recognising her exceptional services and lifelong dedication to midwifery for which she said she was “proud”.
Speaking to the Mirror, Tina recalled the ups and downs of her career including the birth of a woman’s eighth child who doctors strongly urged to be delivered in hospital.
Tina said: “The Alans. All the doctors gave up on her because she was a dangerous case because it was the eighth baby and there was a danger of [heavy] bleeding. In the end, I asked my doctors if they could take her on their books and they said, ‘yes, Tina, she’s all yours.”
Tina’s dedication to her patients once saw her stopped by police who caught the midwife racing to “critical situation” involving an expectant mother. After hearing her reasons for speeding, she says they provided her an escort with their sirens blaring.
As well as being committed, Tina’s depth of experience saw her predict a twin birth despite doctors arguing it wasn’t the case. The children Tina has delivered over the years have come to visit her, including the seventh and eighth child of the Alan family. While another baby she delivered now works as her carer.
Tina said: “When they visited, I made them stand up in front of me. I was very proud.”
The 99-year-old’s daughter Gloria said: “She’s got so many friends and she’s been to all the children’s weddings and all those sort of things.”
Tina says her proudest moment however, is when she delivered her cousin Ben – an Aparicio, as she says she “felt very proud to be delivering one of my own people.” Overall, her secret to life she says is “hard work” and “decent sleep” although she says she struggles to get any.
A celebration will be held for Tina on Saturday February 1, as John says “a lot of planning” has gone into the event.
John said “The hall has been decorated nicely. We were going to get a digit candle but then we decided not to because she wouldn’t be able to blow out all the candles. It’s going to be cool, it’s going to be really nice.”
