Staten Island woman reunites with EMS personnel who saved her life
Published: May. 24, 2018, 8:04 p.m.
By
Kayla Simas | KSimas@siadvance.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It's not everyday someone gets a second chance at life. But one Staten Islander, Kathleen Doherty, 74, was fortunate enough.
Doherty was reunited with the first responders who saved her life at the FDNY's 24th annual Second Chance ceremony Tuesday in Brooklyn, held in honor of National EMS Week.
Doherty was discovered in cardiac arrest by her neighbor, Paul Digiso, in the backyard of her home on Sept 17, 2017. Digiso had alerted a nurse in their neighborhood, Laura Cappo, who began administering bystander CPR, an FDNY post on social media stated.
In less than four minutes, FDNY Lt. Frank Soto and Firefighters Anthony Tanzillo, Steven Decarlo, Gary Elder and Alex Filosa of Engine Co. 167 in Annadale arrived, and took over CPR. They delivered a single shock with a defibrillator to revive Doherty.
"I couldn't believe it was happening to me," Doherty said.
Paramedics Keith Werner and Carmen Rosas and Lt. Ralph Cabello from EMS Station 23 in Rossville, and EMTs Anthony Natale and Benjamin Knight from Station 22 in Sea View, arrived to Doherty's home next.
They hooked Doherty up to an IV and monitored her heart activity. Once the single shock the firefighters performed on Doherty had restored her circulation, she was then transported to Staten Island University Hospital in Prince's Bay.
"I am so grateful that the FDNY was there," Doherty said. "They saved my life and I want to thank them very much."
The ceremony gave patients, like Doherty, who have survived cardiac arrest, an opportunity to reunite with the paramedics, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, bystanders and other first responders who saved their lives.
"Each of our honored guests was struck down at different moments in their lives but what they all have in common is that they received the greatest care possible from FDNY EMS," said Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro. "A New Yorker, or a visitor to our great city calls 911 for medical help, and our members rush to their aid - it happens 4,000 times a day and more than 1.4 million times a year. The enormous responsibility of providing that care is one our department is proud to own."
James E. Leonard, chief of department, stated the Second Chance Ceremony is "truly a celebration of all the brave men and women who go into danger to help others."
"Seeing this row of survivors is a reminder to all of us how important the FDNY is to the people who live in and visit our city," Leonard said.
Doherty credits her second chance to the quick actions of her neighbor, and the outstanding training of the emergency personnel.
Kathleen Doherty was reunited on Tuesday in Brooklyn with the EMS personnel who saved her last September when she went into cardiac arrest.
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