Woman with Cri-du-chat syndrome made honorary paramedic for the day

By EMS1 Staff

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A battalion chief's daughter was made an honorary paramedic Monday.

Osceola News-Gazette reported that Holly Thomason, daughter of Battalion Chief Cleve Thomason, recently expressed her desire to become a paramedic. Thomason served the Kissimmee Fire Department for 31 years before retiring five years ago. Holly was born with Cri-du-chat syndrome, which causes intellectual disability and delayed development.

She grew up in KFD fire stations and was fascinated with CPR dolls growing up.

"Cleve and I talked about it and said let's make her dream come true," Fire Chief Jim Walls said. "Holly is a daughter to all of us."

Holly was presented an official KFD shirt, was given a paramedic patch, identification badge and a stethoscope with her name engraved on it. Crews also took her on a fire truck ride, where she worked on a mock patient, engineer Travis Yates, in the back of the truck.

She was given a certificate when crews returned to the station.

"It means more than I could put into words," Chief Thomason said. "It's what she wanted all of her life."