Difference makers: Mission first responders honored for helping save stroke victim

3 weeks ago 38

Who knows what would have happened if they hadn’t been there.

South Texas Health System together with Mission city officials honored two Mission firefighters and emergency medical technicians on Monday with their Hometown Heroes award for their efforts in saving a stroke patient last year.

Erick Valdiviez, a firefighter/paramedic, and David Gonzalez Jr., a firefighter and advanced EMT, were recognized at a Mission City Council meeting for their help in saving a stroke patient’s life in December.

The duo responded to a 911 call early Friday morning on Dec. 13, 2024. At the scene, they found a 66-year-old man who was unable to move one side of his body.

They were able to assess the patient, who showed a common stroke symptom, and provided initial treatment as they made their way to STHS McAllen’s Comprehensive Stroke Center.

“Getting that call early in the morning, recognizing right away that the patient was experiencing a stroke and needed immediate treatment and getting him to the hospital quickly, it was just so quick,” Gonzalez said in an STHS news release.

Due to their quick work the duo was able to get the patient to STHS emergency room in just 30 minutes.

“And it didn’t really sink in how fast we were able to get him to STHS McAllen until later. I didn’t get into this line of work for the recognition, but being honored really feels special,” Gonzalez added.

Valdiviez and Gonzalez were able to transport the patient, who has not been identified, to the center within an hour of the onset symptoms, allowing hospital staff to provide thrombolytic therapy in time to help dissolve the clot that was causing the stroke.

The patient was then rushed to the interventional radiology lab where he underwent a mechanical thrombectomy.

He was then transferred to the facility’s inpatient rehabilitation unit for physical, occupational and speech therapy.

The patient was able to make a speedy recovery and was discharged a few weeks later with minimal deficits, according to STHS.

For Veronica Olivarez, director of neuroscience at the STHS Neuroscience and Stroke Institute, the first responders’ quick action made a world of difference in preserving the patient’s quality of life.

“Because of the quick response of Erick Valdiviez and David Gonzalez, the patient was able to get to STHS McAllen in a timely manner to receive complete stroke care,” Olivarez said. “As a Level I Comprehensive Stroke Center, our mission is to provide the highest level of stroke care in the four-county region (Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy and Starr counties), and our partnerships with local emergency medical services providers are vital to accomplish that.

“Kudos to Erick and David for their rapid response.”

During a stroke brain cells can begin to die within minutes due to blood flow to the brain being blocked or disrupted.

It is for this reason that physicians emphasize the importance of “swift intervention” to help prevent major damage.

Valdiviez, a Brownsville native, couldn’t help but feel honored by the award, something he had been striving for and motivated him to always provide swift and efficient emergency care to each patient.

“It’s the first time I’ve been recognized for my work as a paramedic,” Valdiviez said. “We don’t really get to see a patient after we’ve dropped them off at the hospital, so to know I had a hand in not only saving his life but helping ensure his quality of life wasn’t impacted feels amazing.”

Gonzalez, who is also from Brownsville, shared similar sentiments, adding that he was grateful to know their work had “made a big difference in that patient’s life.”

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