…I didn’t mean to drop off the blogosphere completely for like a week. To be honest, I didn’t know what to write about since the biggest thing that happened to us was not a happy one.
As you all know, RR is a member of our town’s Fire Department. He is also a first responder, trained in all things CPR. You may or may not know this, but this means that he carries a pager and we have another one in the house all the time so I know when there is a call when he is not with me. Last Sunday night, we had settled down to watch something on the DVR and the pager went off. We listened and heard that the address was across the street from us and the call was regarding an unresponsive young girl.
RR jumped up, I jumped up and the drill began. He ran for his shoes, I ran for the extra radio so I could hear what was going on and help if I could. He kissed me goodbye (he always does this before a call, I’m scared to death something will happen to him if he leaves with no kiss) and jumped in the car. I listened…and waited.
Five minutes later I heard the worst thing ever. RR on the radio stating that it was a 14 year old girl and CPR was in progress. His voice? Terrible. I knew how bad it was because I know him and I know his voice. I also knew that the rest of the guys would have a hard time finding the driveway because it is not marked.
I ran for my shoes. In my pj’s, I ran across the street to stand at the end of the driveway and flag the rescue truck and anyone else who showed up to the call. At the end of the driveway stood the young girl’s brother with a completely stunned look on his face. I asked him if he was okay, told him my SO was the first FD up there in the Jeep and asked him if he knew who was hurt.
He said, “Yeah, it’s my sister. All I heard was my mom screaming that she hurt herself and wasn’t breathing.”
It was one of the rare moments in my life that I’ve been speechless. After a moment, I said that I’m sure RR is doing his best and everyone else is going to be here any second.
Less than 30 seconds later, the rescue came around the corner, 10 seconds after that, the police, and 10 seconds after that, the ambulance. I knew someone in each vehicle. I knew they’d all be profoundly affected by what they found in that house. I also knew that they were all the most courageous people I know, they all dropped what they were doing to save this girl, to do what they had been trained to do…
…and that they wouldn’t be able to sleep for a week because they couldn’t save her.
Yeah, it’s been a shitty week.
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