||| FROM WILLIAM THOMPSON |||
At 4:30 a.m.on Nov.4, I awake. The peculiar symptoms I had for a couple days is now clear. My heart is failing. Do I call 911 or do I drive to the Eastsound firehouse where I know the highest rated EMTs in Washington will likely be in dreamland? No time to think further, or explain anything on a phone call, I’m out the door.
After three miles I’m halfway. I tell myself, stay conscious, you can do it. I arrive and plant myself at the front door of the firehouse after sounding the alarm. Two minutes later I’m on a heart monitor in the ambulance and being prepared for a life-flight helicopter which will arrive from Bellingham in less than 10 minutes, landing a couple hundred yards away from the firehouse. I’m shown the readings on the graph and why there isn’t a moment to spare. On board the arriving helo is a doctor who’ll be sitting next to me. He could be an NFL fullback from his obvious fitness. The transfer from the ambulance to the chopper was fast, fast, fast. I’ll remember the few seconds of rain on my face in that transfer for the rest of my life.
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Your precise and detailed description makes tears come to my eyes. Glad it was so successful.
Thank you, Orcas Fire and Rescue! As William Thompson says, it is the highest rated emergency medical service in Washington. We are very lucky! And I hope volunteerism for OIFR continues!
Happy Thanksgiving! I read a lot of stories and this was a story that I would rather read. You sir, were brave enough to navigate it with thoughtful consideration. My blessings that the weather was in your favor and the metal bird was able to arrive on-time.