Carroll Gardens Resident Thanks Downstate LICH EMS Crew Who Saved His Life

George and Sonia, Downstate LICH EMS

George, Tony, Dolores and Sonia

What a difference a week makes. On October 6th, my good friend and Carroll Gardens neighbor Tony suffered a massive heart attack and went into cardiac arrest. Thankfully, George and Sonia, two Downstate Long Island College Hospital EMS workers, were able to revive him and brought him to LICH, where doctors treated his coronary artery blockage by inserting stents.

When Tony came home just days after this big scare, he told me about George and Sonia and how thankful he was to them. "They came a few times to check on me while I was in the hospital."

This past Saturday, exactly a week after he almost lost his life, Tony and his wife Dolores were walking on Court Street when they ran into George and Sonia. I don't need to tell you that it was a rather joyful reunion.  Tony later sent me the photos above.

I would personally like to thank George and Sonia for all of their hard work and for saving Tony. He is one of the nicest man I have ever had the pleasure to meet and life on my block just wouldn't be the same without him and his big smile.

I am sure everyone in the neighborhood knows that Long Island Hospital has had many financial problems and almost closed its doors just a few years ago. It survived by merging with SUNY Downstate Medical Center just last year, but this July, there were more layoffs.
We should all make sure that we support our neighborhood hospital so that people like George and Sonia can continue saving lives.




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A Moment Back In Time: A Spring Day In Carroll Park In The 1960's

Here is a wonderful glance into the past from Genevieve, who grew up in our neighborhood and now lives many miles away. She recently came across this wonderful family photograph taken in Carroll Park in the 1960's.
Genevieve writes:
"We are outside Carroll Park getting ready to go to church on Easter morning. I'm pretty sure it was Easter. Ma only took pictures like these on special days and I am wearing pink. I have no idea how old I am, but my brother was six years older than me and he looks young in the photo. Sweet memories!"

Thanks so much for sharing, Genevieve. I love your little coat and the little Easter hat.
Perhaps others have some old photos of themselves in the neighborhood from years past. By all means, let me know by emailing me at pardonmeinbrooklyn at gmail dot com. I would love to post more.

And click here for the story I did a while back on my friend Dolores. Check out the photos taken of her in Carroll Park at different stages of her life here.

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