Joe Vrabel and Mitchell O'Brien walked into Firehouse 50 to start their shift on ambulance 51. They met at the door and entered the firehouse together at their usual time, 6:45 AM. As they were stowing their gear, the intercom squawked, "Ambo 51 and Squad 81, man down at 53 Holly Street."

With great speed, Joe and Mitch headed towards their ambulance. Joe drove, and Mitch rode shotgun. Joe stated the address, 53 Holly St., and a map appeared on their screen. This guided them to the address and avoided traffic tie-ups. They call the voice, Rosie.

As they arrived at the address, a woman frantically yelled and pointed to the house. Joe grabbed the emergency bag, and Mitch grabbed the chair stretcher. They entered the house and saw a large man on the floor looking an unhealthy shade of grey. They immediately jumped into action.
Checking the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Cardiac)


Breathing is rapid and shallow, and the heart rate is irregular and weak. Blood pressure 100/50. Joe put on the chest patches, and Mitch hooked up the EKG ( electrocardiogram) The screen showed anything but normal sinus rhythm. (NSR)

Mitch looked at the woman and asked, "What's his name?"

"Bobby, Bobby Harrington"

While doing a sternal rub, Joe asked, "Bobby, can you hear me? He was unresponsive to pain.

Joe had radioed Squad to bring in a backboard. As soon as it was there, Joe stabilized Bobby's head, and Mitch and the men from the Squad rolled toward Mitch and placed the backboard under the patient. Lifting the backboard, they exited the house and slid Bobby Harington into the ambulance.

Mitch yelled, "Go, Joe, lights and sirens!"

Then he rechecked Bobby's Vital Signs. They were about the same as earlier. He put a tourniquet around Bobby's arm and looked for a vessel to start the intravenous drip of Normal Saline. He found a vein that was possible. After gloving, he cleaned the spot with an alcohol pad, pierced the skin, and pushed the needle until he felt the needle pop into the vein.

By then, Joe backed them into the ambulance bay of Good Shepherd Hospital. The ER staff was waiting as Joe and Mitch unloaded their patient.

Mitch started yelling.

"Fifty-two-year-old years old white male
R/O heart attack
Breathing rate 24 rapid and shallow
Heart irregular and tachy, impossible to count

The ER staff were moving closer to the patient for their assessment. The charge nurse yelled, put him in C-2. Joe and Mitch steered the stretcher into C-2 and assisted the ER staff in transferring the patient to their stretcher. Joe headed to the supply room to get new sheets. Mitch headed to the intake desk to finish the paperwork.

As they were loading the stretcher into the ambulance.

A call came over the radio. Ambo 51, are you available?"

Mitch responded, "What you got, Cap?"

Unresponsive baby at 54 Main St., apartment 201.

"Great, we are on the road." Mitch flipped the switch for the siren and lights.

"Partner, you know these infant calls are hard on me since I lost Ellie and baby Patrick two years ago. I'm still hurting. Is it okay if I take the baby and you take the mama?"

"Fine with me."

Joe pulled the ambulance up to the curb. The mother stood with her wrapped baby in her arms and rocked from one foot to another. Mitch introduced himself and took the baby from her. He checked breathing and heart rate. There was none, so he started infant CPR and rushed toward the ambo, climbing in as he continued doing infant CPR. Joe helped the mother into the cab of the rig. Mitch knew there was no hope for this baby, but the procedure required the EMTS to do CPR until they made it to the hospital. Mich was happy to give the infant to the pediatric nurse. She asked the unit secretary to page the chaplain on call to come to the ER - STAT.

Joe and Mitch jumped into the cab of the ambo. "Joe, I need a break. How about lunch at Mama Mia's?"

"Fine with me. Call it in".

Mitch called central. "We are taking a meal break. Ambo 51 is out of service for one hour. Their break used to be thirty minutes. They negotiated a one-hour break with their union and the fire department. The EMTS agreed to work a half hour longer. So the day shift schedule is from 7 AM to 4 PM.

Many of the hospital staff and first responders eat at Mama Mia's. The service is fast, and if you get a call, they wrap your food to go. At the counter, they ordered their usual a slice with everything except anchovies for Mitch and a slice with veggies for Joe. They filled their cups at the drink counter and slid into a booth. Mama Mia herself brought out their slices.

"Joseph and Mitchell, how you doin.' So nice to see you."

Mama Mia was a sixty-ish woman of Italian descent. She was five feet tall and round in the middle, like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Her heart was full of love, and she shared it with everyone who entered the restaurant. Since her husband died last year, she has worn a black dress with an apron.

"Mitchell, you do not look too good. Why?"

"We just came off an unresponsive baby call. It brings up my pain of losing Ellie and baby Patrick. It has been two years, but the pain of that day cuts my heart and soul, leaving a tattered mess on the cutting room floor.

"Well, tomorrow is your day off. Are you playing golf with Father Jim?"Yes?"

"I don't know if you could call it playing golf. I try to teach him to play golf, and he attempts to counsel me. None works until we get to the nineteenth hole and grab a few beers."

Mama fished in her pocket and came out with what looked like coins but were saints' medals. She picked out one and put it in Mitchell's chest pocket.


"That is Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Jesus' mother, Mary, will protect you. She put her hand on Mitchell's shoulder and said, "Until the next time.....