“It was hard, but if I have to choose between work and family, I’m always going to pick my family.”

“I just responded ‘ok,’” he said. “I was in the hospital, it was a long night, and I wasn’t trying to argue with nobody about a job while my wife was in labor.”

His son, Cainan, was born just a few hours later. He was the first baby of 2017 born in Concord

There’s been an outpouring of support for the family, with people raising thousands for them on GoFundMe.

The GoFundMe campaign founder, Sara Pereschino, does not know the family personally, but spoke with Austin before starting the initiative.

“I have a 3-year-old and a 3-month-old and not only was my husband able to be there for both births, he had time home with me and the girls after. I can’t imagine having to choose between seeing your son born and keeping your job.”

“If we’re really going to do right by our working families, companies and governments need to step up to institute policies like paid family leave,” she said.

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