First Responders

Sadly, two of the First Responders weren't able to make it and are missing from the photo.

If someone saved your life, or the life of your child, what would you say to them? How would you thank them?

Those are the questions we struggled with leading up to yesterday's visit to Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 71, where we met the First Responders who helped save Tristan's life. There really aren't words to accurately describe the gratitude, love, and indebtedness you feel in a situation like this, and "thank you" seems sadly insufficient. Getting to meet these men face-to-face was such a gift, and watching them interact with Tristan was an incredible experience. It was, after all, his first time out of the house for something other than a doctor visit, and it happened to fall on the five-week-anniversary of the wreck.

Without the dedication, training, teamwork, and passion for the job these men have, Tristan wouldn't be with us today. Hearing about the incident from their perspective as First Responders was amazing. They explained how they communicate back and forth from the front of the engine to the rear - since the rear-wheel-driver can't see anything but the ladder extending in front of him - regarding upcoming traffic and required maneuvering. At the same time they're going over what they know about the incident and what they feel the best approach will be. For example; they knew Tristan was pinned under the car and while they're driving as fast as safely possible (because every second counts), they're discussing whether they should use the hydraulic jacks, airbags, or the manual First Responder jack (which they chose and is shown in the picture above).

Six minutes. That's how long it took from the time they received the call for them to arrive at the scene, extricate Tristan from beneath the car, and load him in the aid car with the EMTs. From there it was a 20 minute ride to Harborview with the EMTs holding Tristan's neck steady, working to assess the extent of his injuries, and doing their best to get him prepped for the surgeons.

26 minutes. It's nothing and it's a lifetime, depending on the situation. If it had taken moments longer in this instance, Tristan wouldn't have survived. The fact that the First Responders receive exceptional training and work together like a well-oiled machine made all the difference in the world for our family.

I would be remiss if I failed to point out the others who tried to assist and comfort Tristan during those first six minutes. Tristan's friend Harrison was directly behind him (in a car with two friends) and watched the wreck happen. Harrison, his friends, and Mr. Wikle (wherever you may be, we thank you!) tried convincing the driver to back their car up roughly three inches to free Tristan, and when the driver refused, they tried lifting the car off him. We thank you all for your efforts and are grateful you were there with him.

Something each of us noted from yesterday was the surprising fact that people rarely go back to visit the First Responders. This was shocking to us all. I honestly cannot fathom not taking the time to go embrace them, look them in the eye, and tell them how grateful I am they kept our family whole. "It's their job" you might say, but they don't approach it like a job. When one of them spends the entire 26 minutes cradling our son's head to mitigate spinal damage while talking to him so he knows he's cared for and not alone, you'll never convince me it's just a "job". Each one of these men has an obvious passion for their work. From the way they handled Tristan at the scene, to calling the ICU to check in on him, to helping coordinate our meeting yesterday, they go well above and beyond the duties of the job.

This opportunity was a gift, and it's a day I will cherish for the rest of my time on this earth. Being in the presence of these men...these heroes...these angels, was the salve our hearts so desperately needed. We didn't know what to say or how exactly to thank them...but we needed to meet them, talk to them, hug them, and tell them they're part of our family now. Driving away from the station we all knew a beautiful thing had just happened, and we are eternally grateful for it.