On March 31, 2022, our family experienced a harrowing situation that we will never forget. Our 10-year-old son, Brailen, who had asthma, suddenly became very sick with severe asthmatic breathing issues that we couldn't control with an inhaler or asthmatic nebulizer machine. Monitoring Brailen's oxygen with a fingertip pulse oximeter, we couldn't get his blood oxygen saturation levels above the low 70s. We were in a remote area, and we knew that time was of the essence. We feared that bringing him down on a snowmobile or the snowcat to an ambulance could take him over the edge.
We were in a difficult and stressful situation, but we knew that we needed to act fast. We called the Granite County Sheriff for assistance, and they sent out LifeFlight. We were grateful for their prompt response, but we knew that there were still challenges ahead. After LifeFlight found us and dropped off two paramedics at Showers Lake, the pilot realized that he had too much fuel weight to take off with passengers at our high altitude.
My wife, Alisa, who was 9 months pregnant, had snowmobiled worried to the paramedics with our son. The drama of his illness and the wait for the helicopter to burn enough fuel for a landing caused her to start having labor pains. It was an incredibly stressful situation, and we were worried about both Brailen and Alisa.
But we were in good hands. The paramedics made a quick decision to take them both off the mountain for medical care. We were relieved to be on our way to help, but we were also worried about what would happen next. It was a long and stressful journey, but we were grateful for the care and attention that we received.
In the end, Brailen received the medical attention that he needed, and Alisa gave birth to a healthy baby boy. It was a challenging and unforgettable experience, but we were grateful for the help and support that we received from the Granite County Sheriff, LifeFlight, and the paramedics. We will never forget their kindness and professionalism, and we will always be grateful for the care that they provided to our family.
