Courtesy of FDNY
The FDNY held its 27th annual Second Chance Ceremony on Wednesday in Brooklyn.
By Michael V. Cusenza
In celebration of National EMS Week 2023, the FDNY held its 27th annual Second Chance Ceremony on Wednesday in Brooklyn.
This special event reunites 10 patients who have survived cardiac arrest with the paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, FDNY EMS officers, firefighters, dispatchers, bystanders, and other first responders who helped save their lives.
The 10 survivors included a premature newborn baby girl who made a full recovery, an NYPD Auxiliary officer on his way to work, and a man from New Jersey who good Samaritans aided before FDNY EMS arrived.
Another survivor who attended this year’s ceremony is Richmond Hill’s Jayden Hardowar.
Courtesy of the Hardowar family
The Hardowar family.
“Teamwork is imperative. This team that I’m a part of consists of Paramedics, EMTs and Firefighters. During 2020 at the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, I was part of a team that responded to what most, if not all first responders consider the most stressful 911 emergency we can go to, a pediatric cardiac arrest. As first responders we want to work fast and efficiently. My job is to make sure that the team can perform all medical interventions necessary to give the child the best possible chance at a positive outcome. Managing the scene for safety, keeping the family informed, ensuring all resources necessary are available and transporting the child to the most appropriate hospital are my priorities. Most of the time we never see our patient again. We try to process what occurred and get ready for the next call for help. Being able to meet a patient during the Second Chance Ceremony that had a positive outcome and is thriving because of what the team accomplished is the most amazing and rewarding opportunity,” said FDNY Lt. Edwin Gonzalez, who helped to resuscitate Jayden Hardowar after he experienced a sudden cardiac arrest at home.
“He said ‘mommy’ in a very shallow voice. He quickly started to turn blue and became unresponsive. My older son started doing CPR immediately and we called 911. The rescuers showed up very quickly. Not a minute was wasted once they arrived. They went right to work. Even the doctors were amazed that he survived this without any complications. It is a true miracle. I just want to say thank you to the first responders who gave Jayden a second chance and kept our family together,” said Navita Hardowar, Jayden’s mom.
