Thursday, October 1, 2009

Paramedic saves mother of friend and colleague

When Ryan Lopez went to paramedic school and struck up a friendship with classmate Brian Borland, he hardly envisioned the role his new friend would play in his life.
Lopez's mom, 51, collapsed at her University Heights home the other day. When paramedics and firefighters arrived seven minutes later, she had no pulse. Their emergency measures kept her alive while she remained in cardiac arrest for 45 minutes.
Lopez soon learned that Borland, 26, now his colleague at San Diego Medical Services Enterprise, and his co-worker Anthony Sablan, responded. He credits their work, along with firefighters and emergency room doctors, with saving his mother against great odds.
When he called to thank Borland, who had no idea his patient was Lopez's mother, Borland downplayed his role, saying he was just doing his job.
“He didn't give just 50 percent, he gave 110 percent,” said Lopez, who nominated the respondents for an award. “I am proud to say I work alongside them.”
Meanwhile, Jeannie Lopez, a former principal of Oak Grove Middle School in Jamul, has fully recovered and recently returned home from the hospital.

By Diane Bell
Union-Tribune Columnist
2:00 a.m. October 1, 2009

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