Massachusetts first responders honored, reunited with people they saved
By Mary Saladna
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ATTLEBORO, Massachusetts (WCVB) — A group of Attleboro firefighters and paramedics were recognized by their community, families, and the families of those whose lives they saved Tuesday evening.
“It just brought back a lot of memories. I’m just so grateful to be here,” said Gina Teixeira, who just a few months ago suffered a cardiac episode as she lay in bed on a Sunday morning.
“When I got to Sturdy Memorial Hospital, which did a great job as well, they said you owe her life to the EMTs, because what they did was amazing,” Gina’s husband Frank Teixeira said.
Tuesday night was about thanking the team who saved Gina, so she could keep living.
“And like I went to a Patriots game. I went to see Bruno Mars. So just getting to live my life, my best life, as they say,” Teixeira said.
The Masse family showed up to thank the first responders who stepped in to resuscitate David Masse a year ago.
“I was here tonight because of the dedication of these people and I wanted to be an example of their success and example of their courage,” Masse said.
Masse’s wife, Lynn, also credited the dispatcher who coached her to perform CPR until the paramedics got there.
“I wish I could see her to this day and thank her because I think it’s due to her knowledge and her telling me what to do that got me through it and got him through if of course,” Lynn Masse said.
“To you survivors, not every call goes well,” said Chief of Emergency Medical Services Steve Stellakis.
Which is why these reunions are so meaningful.
“It’s a field in which we don’t see a lot of happiness. So we hold onto this and we remember and we see their faces on those days we don’t know if we can push forward,” said Dan Kirk.
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