Baby Jameel isn’t feeling too well and mom, Shaneeka calls for help to have her eleven-month old baby boy looked at when he begins to display signs of shortness of breath. Mom tries to be calm knowing she lives in a City of highly skilled trained Paramedics that will soon be here to save her precious only child.
A loud siren and air horn can be heard from a distance but are getting more loud as they come closer to her home, then it stops. Red and white lights flashing in the front window are signs medical assistance has arrived. She sees a male Medic and his female partner stepping out of the ambulance with gear in hand. Letting them inside, the Medics introduce themselves as Stella and Toby to the somewhat distraught child’s mother.
As Paramedics are assessing his vitals, Shaneeka admits he has been ill with coughing and a high fever. Her concern turned distress when his breathing seemed labored is when she decided to call 9-1-1. She is reassured her, they are going to take care of her baby boy and get him to the hospital for emergency care. Shaneeka knows deep down in her heart, they are her Unsung Heroes seeing how gentle and compassionate they are with her baby boy.
Before they get moving, they are going to belt him into a booster seat inside the rear of the Medic unit to treat him, getting some meds on board to help him breathe easier. A mask filled with meds is placed near his face and he quickly breathes in. He is beginning to cough up the gunk that seemed to block his little throat. Mom sits nearby watching in wonderment how these men and women do this every night and day. She comments how lucky they are living in the big City with great medical care.
The Medics take little Jameel to the hospital where Doctors take over his emergency care. Stella and Toby’s job is done for this call but they will return to the streets waiting for their unknown next medical care.
Ten years will pass when Jameel is put to the test again but he is on the other end of the lifeline, when he sees a man go down unresponsive on a nearby sidewalk by his family’s apartment in downtown New Orleans. He drops his backpack full of school books walking over to the unconscious man. He has never met this man nor does he know of him. He is a complete stranger.
Tunnel vision sets in and Jameel can only think of the Firefighter showing him where to place his hands on Rescue Andy and the steps in how to give CPR. Those will walk around the two on the ground either watching or walking by as if there is nothing going on in front of them.
Jameel is in his own moment and commandeers the scene.
Quick-thinking actions, he places his two small hands in the proper location on the stranger’s chest and begins to sing out loud the CPR song, Staying Alive. As he is singing, he gives compressions to the beat of the lyrics which mesmerizes him and praying this man will live.
Medics soon arrive on scene and take over compressions, thanking the young man for helping a perfect stranger.
“Can you tell us where you learned how to do CPR?” a news reporter would ask the young Jameel.
“From a Firefighter who came to our school last month. He taught our class how to save lives. I’ve been practicing on my sister’s dolls and today, I was finally able to try it on a real person.”
“And, how did you feel?” The woman reporter asked.
“I feel like a Hero in the Making.” Jameel’s grin goes from one side of his face to the other. “This must be how you all feel.” He said turning to the Medics standing nearby at this young rescuer’s award ceremony presented to him by the man who survived his heart attack.
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Disclaimer: This is a fictional story written by Public Safety Writer and Author L.R. Swenson inspired by a non-fictional event. All names, locations and those involved have been changed for the purpose of this story.
[c] 2015 The NW Fire Blog / LR Swenson
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