LOS ANGELES — Two men who saved each other’s lives 30 years apart were reunited at a fundraiser for childhood cancer research, where they both shaved their heads to potentially help save more lives.
On March 29, 2011, Dr. Michael Shannon was driving along when the Pacific Coast Highway when his SUV and a semi-truck collided; pinning him underneath the truck as it caught fire, KTLA5 reports.
Orange County Fire Authority paramedic Chris Trokey was one of the responders who helped pull him from the burning vehicle. Shannon was seriously hurt and taken to Mission Hospital, where he spent 45 days recovering from internal injuries, and had to have two toes amputated.
Trokey later realized Shannon was the same doctor who delivered him years ago.
“I didn’t know about it until I went to the hospital and started talking about, Dr. Shannon,” Trokey said. “And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, Dr. Shannon?’ That’s when I found out.”
Trokey was born at 3.2 pounds, and had a 50/50 chance of surviving. Shannon, his pediatrician, stayed with him around the clock until his health improved and he was stable.
“It’s amazing to watch them all grow up, but to have one come back in your life, on a day you really need it, that’s really incredible,” Shannon said.
He is now the pediatrician for Trokey’s son.
Trokey and Shannon both met up again to potentially save more lives by shaving their heads for a fundraiser benefitting St. Baldrick’s charity. The event raised $12,000 for childhood cancer research.