Dover, Del. – In Kent County, first responders and residents came together to celebrate survivors of cardiac arrest and the paramedics responsible for saving their lives.
The fourth annual Survivors Ceremony saw hundreds gather on Wednesday, including first responders from agencies throughout the region, local families, state legislators, as well as Delaware Governor Matt Meyer and his wife, Dr. Lauren Meyer, an emergency room physician. All of them honoring the stories of those who survived cardiac events in the previous year.
“It’s mind boggling for me,” Assistant Director for Kent County EMS Justin Conrad said. “It’s breathtaking because, you know, just knowing that everyone here was, you know they were a part of a team that helped save a life. And that’s what we all hope to do.”
Curtis Finney experienced a cardiac arrest in September. He said it was the third time in his life he had gone through a near-death experience. But at the ceremony, he got to come face to face with the people responsible for bringing him back from the brink, something Dr. Meyer said helps bring closure to first responders. For Finney, the ceremony showed him that life is always worth living because “people care.”
“I’m not here by myself and we got people that can help,” Finney said.
For Chief John Tinger, this year’s ceremony was especially poignant. Last year, he survived a medical emergency in November because of the rapid response of the department he leads.
“So for me, this is as a whole, new meaning to me, and I’m able to appreciate the work that everyone does,” Tinger said. “The camaraderie, the teamwork.”
