Newtown Volunteers

To The Rescue

To the Editor:

Bee swarm.... Heart attack.... Newtown volunteers to the rescue.

In this day and age of discouraging headlines, I need to commend the courage of our Newtown emergency response teams for their heroism, quick thinking, effective teamwork and incredible compassion.

What started as a simple task of mowing the lawn before a weekend away turned into my own personal nightmare when a swarm of yellow jackets left me fighting for my life on the living room floor... I remember pushing the lawn mower Friday afternoon, then bees covering my left leg and arm, and then rolling on the ground to get them off. Within 30 minutes, I couldn’t stand, I could barely breathe, and I couldn’t see the numbers on the phone to call my wife. Somehow I could still see the 9 and the 1. So I called 911.

Newtown 911 dispatcher John Facto tried to keep me talking as he sent an ambulance to my house, but I passed out. Botsford Fire Rescue volunteer Jay Nezvesky, who had just lost his own father (Sam), was first on the scene, woke me up and kept me breathing as he took my medical history from my wife on the phone. FYI — I’ve had heart issues and folks with heart issues can’t be given the standard treatment for bee stings.

Within the hour, I was being moved by ambulance. Kathy of the Newtown Drug Center drove the ambulance to the emergency room with Friday night I-84 traffic. Paramedic Chris Neary, after working on me at the house, kept me conscious — kicking and screaming — through the ride and actually thanked me for swearing at him — he said he loved it when I talked dirty as it showed I was still in fighting mode. Martiza, Kim Nezvesky, and Felicia Figol helped my wife deal with the confusion and logistics.

I’d like to commend Newtown 911 dispatch, Martiza, Kim and Jay Nezvesky, Chris Neary, Officer Figol, Kathy, our friends and family who blanketed us with care and compassion throughout the ordeal.

You should know that our volunteers provide this type of emergency care free of charge out of the sheer goodness of their hearts. I will never underestimate the courage and dedication as well as the quality and professionalism of all of our emergency response teams. They came together in a high-stress situation and literally saved my life. I am humbled and grateful... and breathing... because of them. My family and I thank you all.

Please remember to donate generously to your own fire companies and the Newtown Ambulance Corps. The life they save may actually be your own.

Bill Ross

Fern Lane, Newtown                                                     July 19, 2011