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To the editor,
My son Ethan was involved in a freak accident in gym class at Wautoma High School in late May. It required an emergency response from HS staff, community resources/responders and ultimately a flight to Theda Clark trauma center. There’s no better team of people I’d have trusted more in that situation than those that were there that day. Specifically: Waushara EMS/Keith Melvin and staff (those women were amazing and offered huge, comforting and heartfelt hugs), HS staff/Val Stahl (I needed that hug too!), Jen Johnson, Mike Nompleggi, Andrew Dekeyser, Lafe Hendrickson, Cari Pronschinske, Brittanie Mastricola and Adam Vaughan.
I’m sure there were certainly others there that I don’t specifically recall or those involved prior to my arrival on scene. My apologies for not having the ability to name you here. It was very touching and comforting that severalWASD staff, EMS responders and community families reached out to us personally afterward providing hugs, thoughts, prayers and offers of assistance in any way. Ethan is fine and it all ended really, really well.
I have had kids in WASD consecutively for 20 years, with 3 more to go. I’ve always been a huge fan of each school, its staff and responses to a variety of situations. Kindness, care and compassion have always been evident. Staff have always bent over backwards for each of my boys in the most important and formative years of their lives to help them help themselves succeed! It’s who WASD staff are, what they do and what they excel at every – single – day. This time was different, bigger and there was more at stake. The quick action and compassion that day saved a potentially life altering situation from occurring. Everyone erred on the side of caution and put my son first.
My words here aren’t adequate for what my heart feels. Randy, Ethan, myself and our entire family are thankful and grateful for each person there that day and their role. When I asked Ethan afterward how he felt that day as he became aware of what was happening he said, “I felt like they cared about me.” Isn’t that exactly what we want for our kids in any situation without us there with them? Especially the scary and hard ones? For others assigned to them to care? WASD staff have always rose to the challenge and far exceeded our expectations and their required roles! (and at times – a challenge it’s been! ). Although we’ve never needed Waushara EMS until that day – we are blessed to have the best of the best in them for the times we do. Our community is better because of all of these great individuals.
As the 4th of July approaches, let us come together, appreciate and celebrate all that we have together. Let us recognize our freedoms, our families and our amazing service people at home, abroad and in our day to day lives. Those serving in our schools, LEO’s, EMS, Fire, medical staff, armed forces, store workers, county workers and all others in between serving us each day, in any way! May God continue to bless and keep us all in the greatest Nation in the world!
Sincerely,
Randy, Chris & the entire Trinrud Family
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