Survivors of trauma situations are getting the opportunity to officially thank the first responders who saved their lives.
In March of last year, Catherine Marcoux went into labour at home and immediately knew something was wrong. She felt an extreme pain that turned out to be her umbilical cord prolapsing and her son Roman was coming feet first in the posterior position. It was a risky delivery in the best of circumstances.
Catherine says she was preparing for it to be the worst day of her family's life but instead the paramedics that arrived at her house saved their lives.
"I have a sense of silliness that comes over me every time I try to say thank you cause it seems like such a mediocre thing to say to someone who saved your life, and your family and your child's life," says Catherine.
Roman was not breathing after he was delivered.
"I could hear Rick [the paramedic] say the baby is out and I couldn't hear crying," says dad David Marcoux. "I pushed my way up there and I wish I hadn't because I still can't get that image out of my head. That little, grey Roman on the ground and Rick is giving compressions."
The baby was transferred quickly to the hospital and was later transferred to a hospital in Detroit.
"They didn't just save his life, they saved his health. He's healthy because of all of this, which is unheard of and it wasn't the horrible situation that you'd think it would be. It's just so bizarre how I had so much dignity given to me and so much respect that whole time and they really empowered me to get through that whole situation," says Catherine.
The Marcoux family recognized the team of paramedics on EMS Survivor Day Friday afternoon.
Paramedic Rick St-Pierre says nothing can beat the feeling he got after getting to hold a sleeping, healthy 11 month old Roman in his arms.
"There's no words that can justify this part. The ability of actually getting to meet someone after we intervened. The way I look at it, it's either fate or luck that we are all brought together at the same time, same day, exactly when we needed to. We all did our part, including them," says St-Pierre.
Paramedics look over the small boy they helped to save on EMS Survivor Day 2016, February 26 2016. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
This is the fifth year the Essex County EMS has organized Survivor's Day to recognize paramedics, and emergency room staff for their life saving work in the community.