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(Preble County, OH)--Gasper Township Trustee Jimmy Gambrell said Monday night that they just felt as though they were doing their job and that they don’t consider themselves heroes. But, to Lance and Kristina Fiemeyer, what Gasper Township first responders did on the afternoon of January 6 meant everything.
On Monday night, those first responders were recognized at the Gasper Township Trustees monthly meeting by State Representative Rodney Creech on behalf of all of Ohio for their efforts in saving the life of two-year-old Maddox Fiemeyer. Father Lance Fiemeyer held his son tightly during the ceremony.
On the day it happened, Kristina had put Maddox down for a nap and had begun to do some cleaning. About ten minutes into the nap, she checked on him. He was sitting straight up and staring. Maddox had had a seizure previously. Kristina recognized the signs and called 911.
Gasper Township medics arrived at the Fiemeyers’ Lakengren home. But, the situation took a turn for the worse. A driver was called so that two crew members could attend to Maddox in the back of the ambulance.
“During transport, he became unresponsive and had no pulse,” medic Dalton Helton explained on Monday night. “We performed CPR for six minutes and were able to get a pulse restored, but we still had no breathing.” They continued to work on Maddox until he arrived at the hospital, where he was treated and made a full recovery.
“It’s a blessing,” Maddox’s mother, Kristina Fiemeyer said Monday night. “If it wasn’t for them it would be a whole different situation. I can say thank you a million times, but I don’t think it’s enough. The caring and compassion of the EMT’s and the Sheriff’s Department has been absolutely incredible.”
Monday night, Maddox was more enthralled with the fire trucks and ambulances than the ceremony, and Kristina said that he’s a typical two-year-old boy.
“He’s back to himself. Hopefully, we don’t have any more episodes. But, I know I can count on them if we need them.”
First responders were presented with certificates of appreciation by Creech during a short ceremony at the Gasper Township Fire Department on Monday night.
