Marine Lance Corp. David Reza was able to see his wife, Olga, and baby Jordan Izabella the day after she was born at Homestead Hospital. Never mind that he was thousands of miles away.

Reza may be fighting for his country in Al Asad, Iraq, but Freedom Calls Foundation doesn't want him and other troops to miss out on important family events.

Started in the fall of 2003, the nonprofit provides state-of-the-art video conferencing, phone and Internet services to allow troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to keep in touch with their loved ones at home, free of charge.

Olga Reza, who is also a Marine, gave birth Aug. 14, two weeks early. Her husband came off the battlefield to be there -- at least on the phone with baby's grandmother. Then the Rezas and their new daughter had a video conference the day after.

With his rifle nearby, Reza could peer at the screen in Iraq to see his tiny daughter nestled in a cap and blanket in Homestead. She smiled for the camera -- or, it seemed like she smiled for her dad. He grinned back.

``I'm so thankful that Homestead Hospital stepped up to help us in our time of need; I thought I'd be having this baby alone,'' Olga said. ``We never could have imagined that David could be here to meet the baby when he is 8,000 miles away fighting a war. This means the world to me and my family.''

Hospital CEO William Duquette said he believed it was the first time that his hospital had worked with the foundation.

``I thought it was a great success,'' he said. ``To give someone who is fighting for our country the ability to see the live birthing process is beyond successful . . . It was very touching to watch how this video conference provided these new parents with an additional boost of emotional and mental support.

``We have a great relationship with the military base [Homestead Air Reserve Base],'' he added. ``They have a clinic on campus and whenever they cannot provide services we see them here.''

John Harlow, founder and executive director of the Freedom Calls Foundation, wants to make sure soldiers can remain in contact with their families -- without the burden of a large phone bill.

``I heard on the news that soldiers had to pay $7,000 in telephone bills,'' Harlow said. ``I couldn't believe that people sent to fight for this country had to pay so much.''

So he started Freedom Calls Foundation. It receives donations from individuals and corporations, enough to provide services to more than 60,000 soldiers, Marines and airmen free of charge 24 hours a day.

The foundation is able to provide more than 2,000 video conferences from homes, hospitals and churches every month. The foundation hopes to continue expanding its help to the troops.

``The long-term vision of the Freedom Calls Foundation is that our war fighters will be able to come home from a day on the battlefield and spend virtual time with their families every night using state-of-the-art technology,'' Harlow said. ``The contribution of resources by community citizens like Homestead Hospital enables the foundation to fulfill its mission.''

In addition to new births, the foundation allows soldiers to ``attend'' weddings, graduations and even an in vitro fertilization.

All these emotional perks are important, Harlow said.

It allows the troops, he said, to ``keep their commitments to their families at the same time they keep their commitment to their country.''

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