Hero - the title can conjure up so many examples and images. For many, a police officer or firefighter, a teacher or a person in authority could be a hero. A sports figure, movie star or musician could be someone's hero. Many consider their parents heroes.
So what defines a hero? For us, this week, the definition comes in the form of 19-year-old Paul Jensen.
Paul was helping his father John recently on some home renovations when John collapsed. Paul rushed to his father's aid and sprayed nitroglycerine in his father's mouth, a drug prescribed after John suffered a heart attack a mere 13 months ago.
When the medicine didn't produce a response, Paul went into action and started CPR, invaluable training he had received while he was a Boy Scout.
While starting CPR, he dialed 9-1-1 and the operator continued to talk Paul through the procedure while paramedics and firefighters rushed to the Wilson Creek home.
Soon after paramedics arrived, they took over, but the vital minutes that Paul spent doing CPR kept John alive and saved his life. The paramedics, in fact, credited and thanked Paul for his swift action.
John was rushed to St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver where he was fitted with a pacemaker. He is now back at home recovering fully from surgery and owes his life to his son.
We're overwhelmed with admiration and respect for this young man. We can't imagine what we would do in this situation, but Paul knew. He was calm and collected, and although he received invaluable support from the 9-1-1 operator, recalling the CPR training he had received ultimately helped save his father's life.
Paul is a true hero in every sense of the word.
Along with Paul, there are some other individuals in the community we'd like to spotlight.
On Tuesday, members of the Suncoast Racquet Club along with the District of Sechelt and paramedics will be honouring two of their members.
In 2009, Ron Kydd and John Stevenson rushed to the aid of fellow member, tennis player and friend Ray Schami, after he collapsed at the club. Kydd rolled Schami onto his back and they started doing CPR, while calling for paramedics. As they waited for paramedics to arrive, they escalated their measures by using a defibrillator that Kydd had in his vehicle. Paramedics said afterwards that the efforts of the two gentlemen saved Schami's life.
Again, valuable CPR training and the willingness of good-hearted folks to help others - these heroes are what make this community so special.
We're grateful to have these heroes among us.
