Paramedics in Okla. Take Girl Trick-or-Treating at Zoo

Oct. 31--Emergency Medical Services Authority paramedics took a 4-year-old girl trick-or-treating Sunday evening at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Kadence Tinga, a preschooler at Andrew Johnson Elementary School who has cerebral palsy, and family friend, Bailee Ryan, were picked up at the Tingas' home, loaded onto a stretcher and driven to the zoo in the back of a pink ambulance.

"They loaded everybody up and drove us out here and Kadence got to ride in the ambulance with them," Kadence's father Frank Tinga said.

Kadence dressed for Halloween this year as an Oklahoma State University cheerleader.

Husband and wife medics Danielle and Mike Cain escorted them along the trail, collecting bags of chips and packages of candy along the way.

"They put a bunch of fruit snacks in there and she loves fruit snacks," Kadence's mother Sally Tinga said.

"She went through a little bit. I didn't let her go through a whole lot because she hasn't had dinner yet," she said.

"Her teacher actually called me from school and said that she has a partnership with EMSA and she picks a child every year to go to the zoo with them just kind of have a special night out, and so she chose Kadence this year," Sally Tinga said.

The zoo a fresh experience for both the Cains and Tingas.

"We were amazed at how many people were out there. We'd never gone out there before," Sally Tinga said.

"Last year, we just took her to a couple of houses and to church," she said.

Danielle Cain said, "The best part was getting to watch her face. Her little face would light up and she would throw her hands up in the air."

"The things that we see every day on a regular basis are not the best things. The reality of our job is that we're usually delivering bad news," she said.

"The feeling that you actually brought smiles to peoples' faces, you can't put that into words. I look forward to doing it again in the future. It just makes your day much better," Cain said.

But Halloween isn't over for Kadence just yet.

She returns to school from fall break Monday, and the Tingas plan to taker her trick-or-treating in Edmond on Monday night.

"We're going to take her out for a little bit tomorrow night before it gets too cold," Sally Tinga said.

This is the 10th consecutive year that EMSA paramedics have taken a special-needs child trick-or-treating. They also take a child Easter egg hunting and take them to their homes on Christmas Eve, EMSA spokeswoman Lara O'Leary said.

"We really appreciate the EMSA crew bringing us out there and taking care of our kiddo," Frank Tinga said.

Copyright 2011 - The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City