Anaphylaxis Canada > Living With Anaphylaxis > Unsung Heroes

When working as a Paramedic or emergency physician, saving lives can sometimes feel like all in a day's work. We go about intervening in life threatening situations without second thought or a moment's hesitation. Most of the time we are so busy that we don't even have time to reflect back upon the lives we have saved. Rarely do we hear back from our patients who we have pulled back from the "brink". We often have to be satisfied in our roles as unsung heroes knowing that what we do makes a difference.

Every so often we encounter in a call that sticks in our memory for life. These are often calls where we know even another minute's delay could have made the difference between life and death and that our intervention had to be immediate, decisive, and done completely without hesitation or error.

Exactly such a call happened to Paramedics Nick Manos and Jim Witteveen last October.

The call involved Nadine, a 22-year-old female who suffered a severe allergic reaction to nuts. When Nick and Jim arrived they found the patient to be unresponsive, apneic and cyanotic.

Nick and Jim, supported by a Level I paramedic and Firefighter crew, did exactly what had to be done. After attempts at ventilation using bag-valve-mask failed due to intraoral edema, the patient was intubated and sic epinephrine was administered to supplement the EpiPen that had been given earlier by Nadine's brother.

By the time Nadine arrived at the emergency department she was already recovering. Two hours later when Nick and Jim returned to the same emergency department with a new patient, Nadine already looked like she was ready to go home.

Nick and Jim next heard about this call a few days later after Nadine's father sent a letter to TEMS in appreciation of the work they had done. I recently had an opportunity to speak with Nadine's father about this call and he told me that never a day goes by where he does not offer silent words of thanks for Toronto's Paramedic heroes. He generously consented to having his letter published for all to read. His words stand alone as a moving testimony to the practice of paramedicine (see box).

Nadine also indicated she would appreciate the opportunity to thank her heroes in person so the Base Hospital arranged for Nick, Jim and Nadine to meet. Unfortunately Nick was such a shy hero he didn't show up for the meeting! Nadine shared her experience with living with a nut allergy and how difficult it is to remain vigilant about everything she eats. Not surprisingly, she didn't remember Nick and Jim treating her but it was obvious just how grateful she was for her paramedic heroes being there for her when it counted most.

Letter from Nadine's Parents October 9th, 2001

To Everyone Involved in saving our daughter's life on Saturday, October 7th, 2001

It has now been three days since my wife and I arrived home to find that our daughter -Nadine had been rushed to the Humber River Hospital as the result of an allergic reaction to something that she had eaten. The anaphylactic shock that she underwent and the subsequent shock that our entire family has felt is simply more than words can explain. This letter is addressed to all of you who were involved and especially to you - the paramedics without whose intervention life would not be possible.

Although my wife and I have been through this twice before, the events of Saturday were unprecedented in terms of the emotional cost. We would both have given our own lives gladly and everything that we own to prevent the effects of what was taking place. The helplessness, the agony and the fear that welled up inside us on this grim discovery were more than we could bear. Without you and what you did, we cannot imagine where we would be today.

Before Saturday, we did not know any of you. As of today, you will all be a constant memory of everything that is good and kind and generous in a society that is often without grace. You are all in our thoughts and our prayers. What your superhuman efforts restored to us can neither be valued nor described by any ordinary offering of gratitude. You gave us back something that is precious, lovely and fragile; you gave us back Nadine and may God always bless you and keep you safe for your courage and for your dedication.

We do not know your names and that is the wonder of it all. You came into our lives as angels of mercy and then went off again to help others in similar distress. You may be nameless but you will never be forgotten.

At the end of our working day, there must be few of us that can claim to make the difference that you can. In a career that finds you called upon again and again to work a miracle, it must give you pause. And that you do this every day without reservation is a tribute to your strength and to your spirit.

With heartfelt gratitude for everything.
David and Nerissa Balmer