County EMS Employees Honored

Christina Sandoval and EMT/Paramedic Student Rebecca Spooner (pictured above together, left) and Advanced EMT Melody McCoy (above, right) received a written letter of commendation from the Texas EMS for Children State Partnership for their efforts in the successful delivery of a very premature baby. Pictured below, Sgt. Ron Naumann of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Offce (center) presented a letter of commendation recognizing (from left) Lt. Bradley Wunderlich, Captain Conner Zeller, EMS Director Josh Vandever and Paramedic William Whitney for their efforts in rescuing a man who was attacked by bees. The patient has made a full recovery.

Fayette County EMS received several accolades recently for exemplary service.

Last Monday, Paramedic Christina Sandoval, EMT/ Paramedic Student Rebecca Spooner and Advanced EMT Melody McCoy received a written letter of commendation from the Texas EMS for Children State Partnership for the successful delivery of a very premature baby “We had a crew that recently delivered a baby in the back of an ambulance in Del Valle at 25 weeks gestation,” said EMS Director Josh Vandever. “That is a very stressful and low chance of success kind of call. That baby is doing well, still in the NICU, and the mom is healthy. We are very proud of that crew.”

Kathryn Kothari, MD with the Baylor College of Medicine praised the medics in the letter of commendation. “We at the Texas EMS for Children program could not be prouder of you!” she wrote.

Also last week, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office issued a letter of commendation to Lt. Bradley Wunderlich, Captain Conner Zeller, Paramedic William Whitney, EMS Director Josh Vandever and Deputy Joe Gonzales for rescuing a man from a swarm of bees in Plum on June 1. Thanks to their efforts, the man who was attacked made a full recovery. A story about the bee attack appeared in the June 13 issue of the Fayette County Record.

“It’s a shining example of the bravery of not only our staff but the Sheriff’s deputies who were on scene,” Vandever said.

Vandever said all of the first responders involved went above and beyond the call of duty.

“They could have waited for the fire department to get there and put foam on the bees and stabilize the situation, but if that would have happened, this person might not be here today,” Vandever said. “They risked not only their comfort but also their lives to take care of this person.”