I saw a man I knew for years take his last breath two years ago today. He suffered a massive heart attack and crashed his car into a power pole right by us. We heard a collision and saw the lights flicker in the shop, so we stepped outside to see what happened. Seeing a car in a pole, and hearing the horn hung open, we knew we had to take action. We got him out of his wrecked car and worked to save his life, but there was nothing we could do. The entire time, we also struggled with 911 to determine which county’s EMS/fire needed to respond to the scene, as we are located right on the Cabarrus/Mecklenburg county line. Later, we worked to resolve which county should respond in any future emergencies, so hopefully precious minutes don’t slip by the next time.

Seeing the life leave someone you know is a world-changing moment. Seeing those fighting to keep him alive, while knowing they were losing the battle is something I’ll never forget. The entire thing was so sad and frustrating, but we truly did our best. There was simply nothing else that could be done.

Life is precious – Make the most of it. Rest In Peace David.