Thank A Paramedic Day: Say thanks on Ambulance Victoria social media pages

WHEN paramedics Justyne and Murray helped little Noah overcome a serious asthma attack he wanted to say thanks. And, thanks to social media, he got the chance. Now you can too.

Noah Palonek, 2, with his mum, Rebecca, and paramedics Justyne Kristic and Murray Kennedy. Picture: Kylie Else

SEEING little Noah Palonek safe, smiling and breathing easy is all the thanks Justyne Kristic and Murray Kennedy could ever hope for.

When the Woodend MICA paramedics first met Noah in February his tiny body was limp and his face had turned blue after arresting.

Just a week before his second birthday, the New Gisborne tot had suffered his second asthma attack and was in a critical condition when his distressed mum Rebecca called for an ambulance.

On their way back from a job in Melbourne, the paramedics responded minutes later to find Noah with a barely detectable pulse, injecting him with adrenaline and steroids to try and bring him back around.

For 15 minutes they fought trying to revive Noah while ventilating him and then, just as they were about to place him on life support, he cried out.

“We were behind for a long time but, when I heard him crying, I knew we’d hit the front. I think all the drugs had kicked in,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Then he just improved, improved and improved. He went from a blue kid who was unconscious to a kid sucking back on an icy pole.”

By the time they arrived at the Royal Children’s Hospital Noah was awake and his normal bubbly self.

But, as the shock of a horror day eased and Noah was safely recovering, his parents’ attention turned to trying to track down the heroes who save his son’s life.

After leaving a touching message on Ambulance Victoria’s Facebook site to track down the crew so the family could say thanks, Noah was reunited with his saviours ahead of Victoria’s inaugural Thank A Paramedic Day today.

You can express your gratitude to Victoria’s paramedics by leaving a message with the hashtag #ThanksAmbos on Ambulance Victoria’s Facebook site or to @ambulancevic on Twitter.