This EMS week, Comanche County Memorial Hospital is honoring staff members who went above and beyond this past year. Jamie Hennessey, a paramedic with CCMH EMS who has worked there for 25 years, was named one of the hospital’s paramedics of the year. She says the people she works with every day in the ambulance give her the ability to do what she does.
“They make me a better person,” Hennessey said. “They make me a better medic, and it’s because of their support that empowers me to do this job, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention what it means is team, and because of us coming together as a team – that’s why we’re here right now.”
Hennessey said she’s unsure why they decided to pick her, but EMS officials told us about a transport she did for a hospital patient needing a ride to their house. When asked about the story, Hennessey said she felt led to secretly buy the patient flowers.
“I wanted to sneak the flowers in and sneak out, and her daughter would not allow that,” she said. “She brought the flowers over to the patient, and she’s saying ‘look momma, look what they’ve done here!’ to see her face light up like it did – that, that’s what’s worth it.”
The patient would pass just days later. She said helping people, especially when they need it most, is why she’s stayed in this profession for so many years.
“We have this incredible opportunity to experience these profound moments with patients and truly meet them in their time of need,” Hennessey said. “It’s incredible. It’s a gift. It’s a gift that I’m able to do this job. It’s a gift that I’m that the hospital allows me to. That’s what motivates me – to be there for people and, as cliche as it sounds, to just be there when it’s their worst day, to just help them through that and to be calm for them…that’s what it’s about.”
While Hennessey’s been there for 25 years, Hannah Barber joined CCMH EMS almost two years ago. She was awarded as their EMT of the Year.
“You get told that you’re going to make a difference and you get told that you’re going to see some things and you’re going to get to do some things, but until you’re actually out there doing it, and you get to see the lives that you help – there’s nothing like it,” Barber said.
Barber said getting to be there for people who feel alone is what has stood out to her the most. She said the people – whether it’s those she’s helping or those she’s working alongside have been her favorite part of being an EMT.
“And my partner, whom I work with on weekends, won supervisor of the year, so for us to be here together, he’s like my big brother, it’s been great,” she said.
Barber hopes to continue her education and become a paramedic one day.
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