News

Wis. Firefighters Surprise Kids in Pediatric Care

09/04/2014

Sept. 04--Imagine 4-year-old Will Nordeen's surprise Wednesday when he looked out his hospital window and saw two La Crosse firefighters waving at him.

After all, his room is in the pediatric intensive care unit on the fifth floor at Gundersen Health System -- more likely to be Spider-Man turf than firefighters, except when they are hoisted up 76 feet on a 100-foot aerial platform ladder.

"You just scared me, guys," Will said to the firefighters peering into his room filled with family and hospital personnel.

Of course, Capt. Tony Nickelatti and firefighter Travis Check couldn't hear him, because the days of hospital windows opening are long gone. But they smiled as they maneuvered the platform up and down, back and forth.

Will and his 3-year-old brother Charlie high-fived, fist-bumped and flashed thumbs-up signs to Nickelatti and Check through the window.

Will, who is undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma diagnosed on July 7, and three other youthful patients reveled in their goodwill visits from the firefighters.

After Will opened a package the firefighters had jammed with a variety of toys -- as well as a real, yellow firefighter helmet -- he hoisted the helmet, saying, "It's heavy!"

Capt. Jeff Schott, who had given Will the package, said, "That's just like mine, but it's yellow. Yours is in better shape than mine."

When firefighter Andy Formanek entered, toting a yellow fire hose over his shoulder, the La Crosse lad said with a laugh, "You're dressed funny."

After Formanek explained that firefighters use the hose to fight fires and showed Will the large nozzle, the boy noted that he has a piece of fire hose at home. His mom said that piece came courtesy of the Marshfield Fire Department.

"I don't have water in mine," Will said.

Among the loot were Star Wars characters, including Darth Vader, befitting the fact that Will is a fan of the movie juggernaut.

Donning his air mask, Formanek warned: "I'll sound a little different when I have it on."

Sure enough, the firefighter's breathing sounded like -- well, none other than Darth Vader.

Not to be outdone, Will also replicated Star Wars special effects, waving the box for a light saber and saying, "Hey, guys, check this out: Whoosh! WHOOSH!"

Will and Charlie's parents, Derek and Julie, marveled at the firefighters' taking time to give the sick children a thrill.

"It's pretty incredible," said Julie, who said Will is doing well with his chemotherapy treatments. "It's like a dream come true."

The dream moment evolved from brainstorming among families, the hospital's administration and child life specialists, said Renee Holzer, a nurse in the pediatrics unit.

The youthful patients "all think it's pretty cool to see firefighters," Holzer said.

Although firefighters, police officers, members of the La Crosse Loggers, Miss Wisconsin, Miss Oktoberfest and other personalities occasionally drop by to visit the children, "we've never had something outside like this," she said.

Schott, clearly choked up and struggling to voice his feelings after the visit, said, "If you've got kids -- there's no words."

Schott, who said he has a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old, said, "I give kudos to these people (hospital personnel) who do this every day."

Formanek agreed, adding that he viewed the experience as an "opportunity to meet these fantastic families and kids ... a way for us to give back.

"It was more about them giving to us than us giving to them. Kids are so special," said Formanek, the father of three, ages 4, 1 and 1.

"It was amazing to see their eyes light up," he said. "It was a special moment for all of us."

Derek Nordeen echoed the sentiment, but flipped the compliment to the firefighters and hospital workers, saying, "It's amazing. Everybody went above and beyond. People definitely went out of their way. It's really humbling."