Rescue hero

Nurse honored with Silver Star of Life Award

SM/SL/VIEW--Paramedic Michael Chailland stands by his Medical Response truck. The paramedic will be receiving the 'Star of Life' award in Washington as a recognition of his work ethic and for going beyond the call of duty. Friday, March 25,2005--View photo by shelly donahue

Ask Michael Chailland what occupation suits him best and he doesn't hesitate. He'll tell you it's the one he already has: critical care transport nurse for American Medical Response

"My great honor is this job," Chailland said. "I'm absolutely passionate about what I do."

His passion led him to go above and beyond for a young girl, one of the reasons he was recently recognized with a Star of Life award.

The award, given under the auspices of the American Ambulance Association, recognizes the nation's ambulance-based health care medics and nurses. Begun about 15 years ago, the honor is open to all ambulance companies and fire departments in the United States. Each year, the association honors about 120 individuals nationwide.

In May, Chailland will be flown to Washington, D.C., where he and other Star of Life recipients will be recognized.

"There is no question, I believe Michael deserves the award," said Kurt Williams, AMR vice president of operations. "It always surprises me that the award recipients never seem to know why they are honored. For Michael, his acts of kindness and care are just what he thinks are the traits of his job. Clearly, from what Michael has done for his patients, I know why he was honored. I am very proud of him."

Chailland, 37, formerly worked at Mountain View Hospital. During his seven years there, he was a critical care nurse for two years, then switched to working in the emergency room. Two years ago, he switched to working in AMR's ambulances.

His first call at AMR put him in a critical situation. It was a rollover accident on the Las Vegas Beltway with injuries. The difference between working at Mountain View's ER and in the capacity of a first responder were immediately apparent.

"Working in a hospital, you have all these resources at your disposal," he said. "There are physicians and nurses, ancillary services, all that. But in the field, that responsibility is thrust on your shoulders."

In any 12-hour shift he might take 8-10 calls. An estimated 80 percent of those calls will be transporting patients. Often, his calls mean dealing with the same patients. Last winter, one of his regular patients was a 13-year-old girl.

"She woke up one day and presented various symptoms -- numbness in her legs, dragging one leg when she walked," he said. "Her parents were alarmed and took her to the hospital, as they should have. She was diagnosed with spinal cancer."

Because she needed to be transported almost daily for treatment, Chailland saw her about four times a week.

"This little girl, she was full of life, one of the most beautiful people I've ever met in my life," he said. "She was a light, you could see it in her eyes. No matter what (procedures she endured) she'd thank you. And when she said 'thank you,' you knew it was a thank you from her heart."

But Chailland said the light in her eyes waned after a week of chemotherapy treatments took their toll and her hair fell out.

"It was a tough time for her and I sort of adopted her at that point," Chailland said. "I wanted to do something special for her. So I asked permission from AMR and Target to take her shopping for Christmas."

His request did not go unnoticed by the main office.

"From what I know of what Michael has done, it isn't often that people in their everyday job can generate the compassion Michael has for the people he cares for daily," Williams said. "He always goes the extra step."

Chailland and his team took the girl on a shopping trip. They wheeled her down the aisles in a stretcher and told her she could choose anything. She didn't take advantage of them.

"Me, if somebody was rolling me down the aisles, I would have been like, 'I want this,' or 'I want that,' " Chailland said. "She picked out a video game she could play in her hospital bed and a little makeup kit. That's about all."

He also went to Serge's Wigs for Men and Women, 953 E. Sahara Ave., and told the manager about the girl and her self-consciousness at being bald. Without anything more being said, the man offered to help. Chailland left Serge's with a long-haired brunette wig for his young friend.

So that she didn't feel she was a charity case by accepting it, Chailland made a deal with the girl. In return for the wig, she had to agree to teach him to speak Spanish. She never got the chance to finish their lessons. The girl lost her battle with cancer around Christmas time and died.

Chailland said he appreciated the Star of Life award, but it did not compare with the heart-felt thanks that young girl expressed to him.