BROCKVILLE – In the height of a crisis, you may not have a chance to thank the first responders that helped you or your family.
But a Kingston family went to great efforts to find those people and thank them.
Shakira MacLean from Kingston got to do that this week, during National Paramedics Services Week, as she thanked the Leeds-Grenville EMS medical team for helping save her newborn son.
The tearful reunion was held at the Paramedic Service Division of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville after she asked for the reunion, which the EMS department was happy to oblige.
“They are angels, truly,” MacLean said of primary care paramedics Garrett Donovan and Cassie Griggs, Brockville General Hospital nurse Heather Lake and St. Lawrence College paramedic student Juliette Bouwmans.
MacLean’s son, Alexander, wasn’t breathing when he was born. He’s now ten weeks old.
On March 12, 2016, the Leeds-Grenville EMS team had been in Kingston for a patient transfer and were heading back when they got an urgent call near CFB Kingston.
MacLean said it was a miracle that the Leeds-Grenville ambulance happened to be just around the corner, arriving in minutes.
While taking her to the hospital the baby “suddenly arrived” and the team had to perform the resuscitation, which was successful.
Paramedic Service Deputy Chief Jeffrey Carss said the division is “extremely proud of our paramedics and the tireless work they, day in and day out.
“We were thrilled to accommodate her request,” he said.