Married Okla. Medics Experience Emergencies Together

Dec. 27--When Tyler Whitmire has a rough day at work, his wife, Angi, knows about it before he ever leaves the office.

They are among several couples who are partnered in matrimony and as medics for Emergency Medical Services Authority in Oklahoma City.

"You experience life with your partner ... when you're in the cab of the truck so many hours a week," Whitmire said.

Angi Reed-Whitmire was Tyler's field training officer when he went to work as an EMSA recruit in November 2007. They worked together off and on the next couple of years and dated for about 15 months before getting married in July.

"It's really cool. I get to spend my workweek with my best friend," Reed-Whitmire said.

Mike and Danielle Cain met on the job in September 2007 when Mike was a recruit. They dated for about a year and were married in June 2009.

"After seeing her, the rest was pretty much history," Mike Cain said.

They started working together as partners at EMSA about the same time they were planning their wedding.

"I love my job. And then on top of that, getting to work with my wife is just a great bonus," Mike Cain said.

The dynamics between the couples is different. Some don't catch on that the Whitmires are also husband and wife, but many recognize the Cains' relationship.

"Our lives are so entwined, but people can ride with us on our truck and not realize we're a married couple," Reed-Whitmire said.

"Patients seem to pick up on it," Mike Cain said.

"Usually the statement comes up, 'You guys act like you're married,'" Danielle Cain said.

"It does make a difference to the patients knowing that we're husband and wife, especially (to) elderly patients. Sometimes, they've been married for 50 or 60 years, and I think they have a sense of security knowing that a married couple is taking care of them," she said.

"I think it makes them feel a little more secure knowing that we're there and that we can relate to those kinds of situations," Danielle Cain said.

As in all relationships, whether personal or work, communication is key. And not just with words.

"After you work with someone for so long, you don't have to communicate a lot. He just knows by the look on my face," Reed-Whitmire said.

"Mike and I work so well together that he knows what I need before I even say what I need," Danielle Cain said.

"You always know that your partner is right there. I never have a second thought. He's my go-to person," she said.

"There are a lot of conversations going on, even though she and I aren't even talking," Mike Cain said.

The Whitmires and Cains make the drive to and from work together, spend four 12-hour shifts in the same ambulance and go to sleep about the same time.

"People are like, 'How do you spend that much time with someone?' It's not 'so much time.' It's all the time. 24-7. Now I can't imagine not spending that much time with her. I'd miss her terribly," Whitmire said.

"We've got a good routine. It's crazy, but it works. There's no effort on either one of our parts. It just works," Mike Cain said.

In order to keep their relationships healthy, on their days off, each spends time following their own pursuits and indulging in individual hobbies.

For Tyler Whitmire, it's his side business. For Angi, it's spending time with her three daughters.

Mike breeds and sells pythons, while Danielle takes care of her German shepherds.

"We make sure on our off days to get in that personal time that we need," Danielle Cain said.

"When we first started working together, people said it wouldn't last six months. But here we are going on four years," Mike Cain said.

"There's no secrets. There's no lies. There's no room for that. It's all out there all the time," Whitmire said.

"Hand-in-hand, you walk through everything," he said.

Copyright 2011 - The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City