A Michigan couple got more than just fries and shakes at McDonald’s — they got a baby.
Alyce Rotunda, 32, was nine months pregnant and expecting her fourth child later in August when contractions hit hard and fast on Aug. 11 — her own birthday. She and her husband, Kevin, raced from their Centreville home toward a hospital in Kalamazoo, but it quickly became clear they weren’t going to make it.
At first, the couple told 911 they’d stop at a gas station. But with it being crowded even at 3 a.m., Kevin steered instead into the parking lot of a closed McDonald’s in Schoolcraft. Minutes later, baby Matilda made her debut under the Golden Arches.
“The pain makes you focused on what’s happening,” Alyce told Fox News. “You just do what you have to do. There’s no sense in fighting anything.”
Kevin, who usually faints at the sight of blood, surprised everyone — including himself — by catching his newborn daughter. “Anyone who knows my husband knows that if you talk about a nosebleed for too long, he gets nauseous,” Alyce laughed. “So for him to go from that to catching his own child — I am so thankful.”
Thankfully, Matilda was healthy and crying right away. Paramedics arrived within 10 minutes and transported mom and baby to the hospital for evaluation. Given Alyce’s Type 1 diabetes and history of high-risk pregnancies, the safe delivery came as a huge relief.
The little girl’s unusual arrival also earned her a one-of-a-kind nickname. Alyce’s brother-in-law dubbed her “McTilly,” a twist on her given nickname, Tilly — and the name stuck. Even the local McDonald’s joined in on the fun, posting a celebratory message on Facebook:
“Alyce and Kevin Rotunda got more than they ordered in the parking lot at the Schoolcraft McDonald’s. During the early morning hours of Aug. 11, they welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Matilda, under the Golden Arches!”
With her surprise entrance, Matilda didn’t just join a family — she joined the McFamily.