American Friends Searching for Hillbrow Baby They Helped Deliver 17 Years Ago

American nurse Macarena Maria Romero McLardy has used South African comedian Trevor Noah’s page to try find a baby she helped deliver in the Hillbrow Apartments, near Soweto (possibly Eldorado Park), almost 17 years ago. If anybody can help her find the baby – who would now be a teenager of 16 – Macarena is offering a great reward!

Macarena told SAPeople she was 18-years-old at the time, and had travelled to South Africa with her best friend Emily and a missions group for a few weeks.

“I no longer align myself with that group, or its ideology. However, I am grateful that we had that experience,” she said.

Macarena and Emily were walking around in the area, handing out invitations, when they were approached and asked to pray for a woman who was in pain.

“Within minutes of entering their home, I realised she was in full-blown labour,” Macarena said. “Coincidentally Emily and I were both nurses, but neither of us had had training in labour and delivery!

“There was limited access to ambulances, and I’m not sure if they called for one but she was in active labour so it really was sudden.”

Macarena remembers the apartment block being called Hillbrow Apartments. One SAPeople follower has confirmed there is a Hillbrow Apartments in Eldorado Park, Soweto.

Macarena has tried to reach out in the past to find the baby – who was apparently named Macarena Emily in honour of the two Americans who delivered her – but with no luck. “I thought with Facebook now we would have a better chance,” she said.

On Sunday, after South African comedian Trevor Noah published a post about his night with Lionel Ritchie, Macarena posted her plea in a comment:

“This is a ridiculously long shot… but after reading Trevor Noah’s book and his stories from Soweto (amazing story and tribute to his beautiful mother), I thought that by some slim chance someone on here may have connections to help me find a little girl born March 16th, 2001 in a bordering township of Soweto. I’m trying to find this family at the Hillbrow Apartments in South Africa. My best friend Emily and I delivered this little girl there. It was quite unexpected (and frightening!) as she was breached and pre-mature. I have photos of them but no other information. It would be quite wild to reunite, but also unlikely. If anyone has interest in this random quest, and you do find her I will buy one round trip ticket to the destination of your choosing. If we did actually locate her, it would mean so much to us. We were told that they named her Macarena Emily after us ( not sure that they kept that name). Any leads appreciated, feel free to privately message me as well.”

Speaking to SAPeople from Cape Cod in Massachusetts, USA, Macarena said: “We would love to reunite with her, and be in her life at whatever capacity she is comfortable with…”

So if you know a teenage girl turning 17 on 16 March 2018, whose name may be Macarena Emily, please get in touch! (You can write to admin@sapeople.com or message Macarena.)