Special events season is always nutty… caterers, decorations, invites, and 10 million little details that can just about drive a girl insane. In April, the Central Illinois Region is hosting the Evening of Stars in Bloomington, the Diamond Affair in Decatur and the Heartland Heroes Dinner in Peoria. So it is three times the “fun”! But every year, along about now, I get to see the final video features that showcase the people we are going to honor at one of the events, and it always reminds me of why we do it. Red Cross services in our communities are only possible through fundraisers like these, and these services not only help people, but in many cases they help make heroes. Continue reading →
Although it seemed like just another clear, sunny day at the Golf Learning Center, August 20, 2012 was anything but normal.
In an unusual move, Park District employee Natt Lapsley decided to step out of the office that day to take photographs at the Learning Center for an upcoming presentation. Also breaking with routine, Julie Rada agreed to stay at the facility after her son’s golf lesson was complete so that her son could be in some of the photographs. And golf pro Dustin Martin didn’t usually teach on Mondays, but his schedule had been altered that week. As it turned out, the abnormal habits of these three individuals that day put them in exactly the right place at the right time to save the life of Mike Beneventi.
An avid golfer, Mike could be found with a club in his hand most days of the week during the golf season. On August 20, he was practicing sand shots from a bunker at the Learning Center when Natt approached him and asked if he could take some pictures for a Park District project. That’s about the last thing Mike remembers before waking up in the hospital. He was stunned to learn the details of how good Samaritans worked together to save his life.
“I was taking pictures of Mike and the next thing you know he just collapsed into the sand,” said Natt. He immediately yelled to Julie Rada for help. As fate would have it, Julie had recently completed CPR and AED instruction at her place of employment, and the training took over.
“I ran inside to call 911 from a landline,” Julie said, “and also asked for the AED from the wall in case it was needed – just as I was taught.” When she reached the bunker, Natt—who was unfamiliar with lifesaving techniques—was on his cell phone with a 911 dispatcher and attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Julie jumped into the sand and immediately began chest compressions.
In the meantime, golf pro Dustin Martin had noticed the commotion and intervened with the AED. “I fired up the machine, got the pads attached to Mike and it gave him a jolt,” said Dustin, who goes through 6-8 hours of training every two years. This initial shock started Mike’s heart and paramedics soon arrived to take Mike to the hospital. Doctors later confirmed Mike had suffered cardiac arrest from a narrowed artery that suddenly became completely blocked—a condition aptly labeled the “widow maker.” The chances of surviving it are slim.
“It was amazing to me that the right people were there at just the right time,” said Mike’s wife Sandy, “and that they were willing to help. If they had not been there…where would we be?”
As a small token of appreciation, Sandy gave each of the individuals involved in saving her husband’s life an hourglass. The sand represents the bunker where the incident took place. But as the grains fall through the chamber, they also symbolize the precious time these heroes gave to the Beneventis. “We live in the moment,” Sandy says, “and let little things go.” Her husband Mike agrees. “I have a second chance…and I don’t want to waste it.”
It was Father’s Day, 2006 and Michelle Watson and her husband were driving home from an out-of-town family funeral. They were just wondering why neither of their sons had called to speak to dad when Michelle’s cell phone brought devastating news: their 18-year-old son Jeremy had been killed in a car crash.
The loss of their son, alongside two of his best friends, tore Michelle and her family’s world apart. Theirs was a community that had already been in mourning. From March 2005 through July 2006, Tazewell County parents experienced the loss of 18 teens in 15 fatal motor vehicle crashes. Unfortunately, all but three of these teen fatalities–including the incident with Jeremy and his friends–involved drugs or alcohol. These, Michelle felt, weren’t accidents; somebody made a conscious choice to do what they did. When she finally pulled her head above the water, Michelle felt compelled to do something.
She began by speaking at Victim Impact Panels in Tazewell County. Convicted DUI offenders or those put on any type of supervision are required by statute to attend the panels to hear directly from victims and their families about what life is like following a drug or alcohol-related tragedy. From there, she became involved in the Red Cross’s prom reenactment crashes, where actual, mangled cars are brought to area high schools. Using these props and student actors, plus real police, fire, ambulance, coroner and funeral home professionals, teens witness how impaired driving can bring one of high school’s most memorable nights to a horrific, deadly ending.
Michelle addresses the crowd after the hearse has left the scene, and hysterical parents and prom goers are left to cope. Her words detail her son’s tragic story, including many details of the last moments of his life and the empty hole his death has left in her world. “When I look up into the stands and start talking, they listen and I see tears,” she says. “And when I see tears, then I think I’ve done my job.”
It’s an impactful job, for sure. Speaking at multiple victim panels and three to seven reenactments a year since 2008, Michelle pleads with thousands of people annually to make smart choices when it comes to impaired driving. Monica Grugett, Youth Program Coordinator at the Red Cross, cries each time she hears Michelle speak. “One choice – to get into a car with someone who has been drinking or using drugs – can destroy. But a mother’s love – like Michelle’s – can transform that into a triumph, making an impact on people and saving lives.”
Does Michelle think she’s a hero? “I don’t do what I do to win awards,” she states. “ I don’t do it for my health. I do it because I know what our family has gone through and what we continue to struggle with.” Although she doesn’t claim direct responsibility, there hasn’t been a prom crash in Tazewell, Mason, Fulton or McClean Counties since Michelle started doing these programs four years ago. “Maybe these kids are listening,” she says. “I hope they are. I do know that Jeremy’s up there saying, ‘Go Mom, go!” and that’s why I continue to do it – for him.”
Last June, seventeen-year-old Charlie Cain took a lifeguarding class from the American Red Cross in anticipation of summer employment at a local country club. But it would be the middle of winter—at a time when he wasn’t even on duty—when his skills would be truly put to the test.
In February, as the Peoria Notre Dame swim team was wrapping up another grueling practice, several swimmers—including Charlie—were competing to see how many yards they could swim while holding their breath. Team member Grant Stried was watching the attempts poolside when he noticed one of the swimmers was missing. The young men figured their friend had perhaps gone into the locker room, but Charlie swam over to the deeper end of the pool to look around. When he saw a dark smudge near the drain, he swam down to investigate.
“Our friend was down there, kind of curled up in a ball and moving around,” Charlie recalled. “It looked like he was goofing around or break dancing, like he thought we were watching him.” Charlie dove down, put his arms around him and started pulling him towards the surface. “I was halfway up when it hit me: he really was drowning!”
By the time Charlie reached the pool wall, their coach was there to pull the unconscious teammate out. The pair got him on his back, and despite his underwater convulsions, they were glad to see that he was still breathing on his own. Propped up in a recovery position, he came to almost immediately. Meanwhile, other teammates called 911 and opened up doors to increase airflow in the pool area. By the time EMTs arrived, the boy’s coloring had returned to normal. Unbelievably, the young swimmer was back in the pool again two days later.
Charlie recognizes that for the most part, swimming is an individual sport. But he also appreciates the team bonds that form as swimmers take to the pool, lap after lap. This, according to him, is where the real “hero” recognition should be placed.
“After three months of practicing about three hours a day, I feel that any one of us could have pulled him out of the water,” said Charlie. “I just got there first. I felt obligated to help as a lifeguard and a teammate.” He is quick to give credit to others. “If Grant hadn’t noticed our teammate was missing, our friend might not be here today,” Charlie continued. He feels it is the combination of everyone’s efforts that paint the truest picture of the heroic rescue.
Not surprisingly, the incident has strengthened camaraderie amongst teammates, especially since it had a happy ending. “We sometimes even joke about it,” said Charlie. “I mean, it could have been very serious – an enormous tragedy, but since everything turned out OK it’s actually brought us a lot closer. We realize exactly how much we care about each other.”
When six-year-old Brett McMahon brought home a flyer from school asking for donations for Operation Santa, he wasn’t quite sure what the organization did. Four years later, this determined boy could just about serve as its spokesperson.
When the notice came home in Brent’s backpack, his aunt, Debbie Lampert, explained that Operation Santa was a group that worked to send Christmas stockings to soldiers serving overseas during the holidays. She went on to describe the sacrifices our soldiers go through to protect us from harm. Her words prompted Brett to respond.
“I felt bad that our soldiers didn’t always get something for Christmas,” he said, “so I wanted to help.” And help he did—the first year Brett collected over 3,000 items for Operation Santa, everything from toothbrushes, shampoo and batteries, to gum, beef jerky and socks. What’s more, he has doubled his yearly goal every year since then, collecting 6,000 items in 2010, 12,000 in 2011 and 26,000 this past year.
Alongside his aunt, Brett works year-round asking for donations from local business and hotels, plus going door-to-door throughout area neighborhoods. His passion and dedication seem boundless. “Whether its one toothbrush or one case, Brett’s reaction is the same,” said his aunt. “His face just lights up!” The pair use their staircase at home as a “thermometer” for their progress. “How far are we to our goal depends on how far up the bags go,” she continued with a smile.
Operation Santa became especially personal two summers ago when Brett’s baseball coach—along with 100 other local service men and women—was sent to Afghanistan. When Brett found out, he and his aunt worked diligently to get the deployment location and pack and ship stockings so they would arrive in time for Christmas. Afterwards, they received emails and photos, and were able to directly speak with individuals who received these exact stockings. The experience really brought things home.
How does Brett feel about being a Heartland Hero? “I can’t believe it,” the ten-year-old stated, “but it makes me feel good. I mean, I didn’t expect it when I started out. I just did what’s right.” His aunt is unabashedly proud. “Brett just cares so much,” she said, “and doesn’t give up. He could be out there riding bikes or playing or whatever, and he gives some of that up. His dedication…that’s what makes him a hero I think. It’s inspiring and tiring,” she jokes, “but it’s contagious!”
The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. When we do this, we not only change lives and save lives, but we also help make heroes. The people who carry out our mission are heroes to those they touch. They are ordinary people who do extraordinary things to make others’ lives better.
Last weekend, the Central Illinois Chapter had their Heartland Heroes Dinner. This is one of my favorite events every year because we celebrate people whose commitment and courage make a difference.
Over the next few days, I will post the stories and video of our heroes, below was our first video of the evening. Dick Reynolds was a prisoner of war in Japan and talks about the importance of the Red Cross.
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