SaltWire E-Edition

Steve’s angels

Kingston man appreciative of paramedics' care that helped save his life

JASON MALLOY ANNAPOLIS VALLEY REGISTER jason.malloy@saltwire.com @JasonMa47772994

Steve Nickerson initially thought the pain he was feeling was indigestion, but he quickly realized something more serious was happening.

The 58-year-old Kingston resident was having a heart attack.

“I didn’t think things were going to work out,” he said, recalling his Jan. 17 health scare.

Then “these two wonderful paramedic angels, just young ladies, walked in that door.”

Brittany Cunningham and Amanda MacIntosh responded to his home and supervisor Jenny Haynes met them there. They were able to get him in the ambulance and Haynes was able to administer Tenectoplase (TNK), a clotbusting medication.

A stent was inserted into Nickerson’s heart that night and now he’s back enjoying his life.

Nickerson recently had the chance to reunite with the paramedics who helped save his life.

“I can’t thank you enough for everything you did,” he told them on May 24.

They responded quickly and showed compassion and empathy.

The reunion meant a lot to the paramedics as well.

“It was amazing,” MacIntosh said. “We don’t get to see the stories afterwards and what happens, so to be able to see him today and how well he’s doing is remarkable.”

Cunningham added: “It’s a nice reminder why we do what we do.”

JAN. 17

Nickerson runs East Coast Aikido in Greenwood.

He’s active, fit and doesn’t have high cholesterol.

But on Jan. 17, he had rushed through supper to get to his martial arts studio for a class after a stressful day. He wasn’t feeling great while doing a light warmup. He thought it was indigestion and went to get a drink, but it didn’t help.

He turned the class over to one of his black belts and went downstairs to see if it would pass. It didn’t. When another black belt came to check on the instructor, Nickerson said he was going to head home and asked if he would go get his keys. In the

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2023-06-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

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