By FDNY
NEW YORK — There was not a dry eye in the house, as 11 victims of cardiac arrest were reunited with their rescuers at the 16th Annual Second Chance Brunch on May 20.
“These survivors were given a second chance at life because they were in a city with the best EMS care in the world,” Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano said during the ceremony at the Fire Academy.
The annual EMS Week event sponsored by the Pintchik family enables victims and their families to thank the paramedics, EMTs and other rescuers who saved them.
“This validates everything we do,” said Chief of Department Edward Kilduff.
Chief of EMS John Peruggia added, “Today we’re celebrating life.”
Among the survivors was Dr. Michael Goulding, a dentist from Texas who suddenly collapsed just after passing the 19th mile of the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 1, 2009.
Members of Engine 35 quickly arrived and hooked up their automatic external defibrillator (AED), shocking his heart twice in an effort to restore his heartbeat.
EMTs Althea Groarke and Mathew Hannon from Station 15 arrived moments later, and he still was not breathing. EMS Capt. Joseph Sanders, and Paramedics Hugo Sosa and Lisa Horowithz then inserted a breathing tube.
Members were transporting him to Metropolitan Hospital Center when he regained consciousness. He later said that other than being tired during the race, he had no warning signs of his impending health problems.
And, after making a full recovery, Dr. Goulding ran the remaining seven miles of the Marathon just hours before meeting his rescuers.
“I’m so humbled to be here,"he said. “I’ve learned today that this isn’t just a job for them, it’s a calling. I’m very touched by their professionalism.”
He added that the situation also taught him the importance of having AEDs.
One of Dr. Goulding’s many rescuers, Capt. Sanders, added, “It’s rare that we get to meet the people we rescue. This is a real honor.”
EMS Lt. Mark Bonilla helped save the life of 16-year-old Tito Reyes, along with Paramedics Gerard Carr and Lynwood Rollins of Station 26, Paramedics Mario Thopkins and Jose Perez of Station 18 and members from Engine 45.
He said his “adrenaline started pumping"on Oct. 20, 2009, when he received the 911 call stating the young man had collapsed in the East Tremont neighborhood of the Bronx while walking with his cousin.
“To see him here today, it’s amazing,"said Lt. Bonilla. “You can’t describe it.”
Another survivor in attendance was Javier Bosque, who was jogging in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park on Sept. 29, 2009 — just days after his 18th birthday — when he had a heart attack and collapsed.
As 911 was called, woman walking her dog nearby, Autumn Baer, began CPR on the St. Joseph’s College freshman.
EMS Lt. Edward Bobb, Paramedics Sean Benjamin and Edgar Rosales, and EMTs Delano Williams and Russell Harris, all from Station 31, quickly responded and shocked his heart with a defibrillator as they transported him to Long Island College Hospital.
Lt. Bobb said meeting the young man “gave us all a great feeling, because we were able to successfully put our training into effect and see tangible results.”
He also stressed the importance of bystander CPR in this case. Ms. Baer’s efforts contributed to saving Mr. Bosque’s life, he said.
Of meeting his rescuers, Mr. Bosque said, “It was very emotional. I wanted to give them a big hug.
“I live life differently now, you really never know how much time you have left.”