Victim Attends Unit of the Month Ceremony to Thank Honored EMTs

(L to R) Chief of EMS Abdo Nahmod, EMT Samuel Murray, Capt. Thomas Dunleavy, RaeVaughn Gardner-Williams, EMT Fredric DeSarno, Greer Gardner and EMT Matthew Myers.

Receiving an FDNY EMS Unit of the Month citation is an honor . and having a victim you saved attend the ceremony is a huge bonus.

EMTs Fredric DeSarno, Samuel Murray III and Matthew Myers from Station 19 in the Bronx received the award on Oct. 19 for their performance in the month of August. And attending the ceremony was RaeVaughn Gardner-Williams, a teenager who was aided by the EMTs after becoming the victim of a hit-and-run on Aug. 7.

"These are three shining stars," Capt. Thomas Dunleavy of Station 19 said of the EMTs. "They are the ray of light that we need today."

The unit was hailed for responding to the most calls in the Bronx in August 2011. And Mr. Gardner-Williams said that he was proof of their incredible performance that month.

"It's amazing to be here, to see them honored like this," he said. "They've been adopted into our family now. They are like family to all of us."

Mr. Gardner-Williams left home to pick up some ice cream for a family barbecue on Aug. 7. He was crossing Burnside Avenue when he was struck.

EMTs DeSarno and Murray heard about the job over the police scanner and decided to investigate.

They found the victim in the prone position - with his face to the pavement - and hundreds of people gathered around.

"It was a hectic scene," EMT DeSarno said. "But our training just kicked in."

The teen remained unresponsive as they loaded him onto the backboard, but then suddenly became combative.

"When we saw that, we knew we had to hurry," said EMT Murray, who had graduated from the FDNY EMS Academy less than a month before this incident. He said it was a sign of serious trauma.

They rushed him to St. Barnabas Hospital's trauma center, where doctors removed part of his skull and performed a hinged craniotomy. They gave him a two percent chance of survival and did not expect him to survive the night.

But the EMTs never forgot about the teen, continually checking on him in the hospital and calling his family for updates as he slowly recovered.

Ms. Gardner thanks her son's rescuers.

"They are two wonderful, wonderful individuals," Greer Gardner, the victim's mother, said. "Their job didn't stop when they dropped him off at the hospital. They did, and continue to do, an outstanding job."

The EMTs said they have formed an unbreakable bond with the family.

"To give someone a second chance is an amazing experience," EMT Murray said.

Mr. Gardner-Williams smiled when he said he'll begin college in January (plans that were put on hold after the accident). He plans to study political science at Franklin & Marshall College, and eventually go on to law school.

EMT DeSarno added, "To see a smile on his face, knowing he has a bright future ahead of him is just amazing."