Firefighters were honored at the Fullerton City Council on March 18, 2025.

Fullerton Fire Chief Adam Loeser said, “I am very excited to be here today to talk about a positive success story involving our fire department personnel and one of our community members. I would like to welcome our fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, including Firefighters Lori Reese, Mitch Hacecky, Eric Gianetti, Jake Sujishi, and Falck EMT Cade Bailor and Aaron Cancino.

“I will provide a brief overview of the incident they responded to, and then I will turn it over to the patient, who would like to share his account of what transpired while he was in the hospital and after his release. We also have some commendations that the council will present.

“On July 20, 2024, at 4:22 PM, this Engine 5 crew was dispatched to assist a male patient who was experiencing a syncopal episode, or fainting spell. Upon arrival, the patient reported that he felt like he was going to pass out, but he did not have any chest pain. The crew applied their EKG monitor to assess his heart activity. They were checking for any signs of a myocardial infarction or heart attack, but none were detected.

“Due to his syncopal episode or fainting, where he passed out, the patient had to be transported to the hospital. The nearest hospital was Saint Jude; however, their emergency room was full at the time. As a result, the patient was diverted to the next closest hospital, Placentia Linda, while en route to Saint Jude Hospital.

“While on the way, the patient went into cardiac arrest, prompting our crews to begin manual chest compressions. Fortunately, they were able to restore his heartbeat. The patient then awoke and was alert, but unfortunately, he experienced two more cardiac arrests. By the time they arrived at Placentia Linda, the medical team had taken another picture of his heart, which revealed that he was having an active heart attack (a STEMI, or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction).

“Understanding that Placentia Linda was not a cardiovascular receiving center, the medical team decided to transport him back to Saint Jude. The crew remained with the patient, believing they were best equipped to care for him, and they packaged him for transport back to Saint Jude. During the journey, they placed an airway and began to assist with his breathing by intubating him. The patient experienced two more cardiac arrests en route, bringing the total to five. To help stabilize him, they administered three doses of epinephrine.

“Fortunately, upon arrival at Saint Jude, the patient had regained a pulse and was showing signs of life, although the medical team continued to provide ventilation for him.

“At this point, I would like to hand it over to the patient, Gary Remlin. He will continue from his perspective, starting from the moment he walked out the door and is here to talk today. Gary.”

Gary Remlin said, “Thank you for allowing me a few moments tonight to express my appreciation for being here and for being alive. I’ve learned a lot in this short time—there were many things I hadn’t realized before. I’ll keep it brief because I want to stick to the schedule, and if I go off track, we could be here all night. Thank you for giving me a few minutes to share this short but amazing story. My name is Gary Remlin. Behind me are my wife, Rhonda, my daughter, Christy, my son-in-law, Andrew, my three beautiful granddaughters, London, Georgia, and Brooklyn, and my sister, Judy, who is right behind me.

“I am grateful that they are all here tonight. We are also here to express our gratitude to the crew of Fullerton Engine 5 and the EMTs from Falk Ambulance. On July 20, I had a great day until around 4:00 in the afternoon when, without any warning, I began to experience heart issues. By the grace of God, and with the help of my family, along with the incredible team from Fullerton Engine 5 and the medical personnel at Saint Jude’s Hospital, I am alive to share this story.

“Let me give you a summary of what happened. My wife was next door with the grandkids, who were playing in the pool. About three or four minutes after I settled onto the couch, she came in to find me incapacitated and lying there. She immediately called my daughter and son-in-law, who came over quickly. A 911 call was made, and I don’t know how long it actually took for the responders to arrive I truly appreciate how fast you all got here.

“The crew in front of me—except for Mitch Hacecky, who isn’t with us tonight—was the team that saved my life. When they arrived, it was clear that I was experiencing a major heart issue, although the specifics were uncertain at that moment. I was quickly loaded into the ambulance, with plans to go to St. Jude’s. However, due to a cloud strike and internet issues, I was rerouted back to St. Jude’s to the cath lab and the cardiac unit.

“It turned out that my heart had stopped five times, and according to the ER, it stopped at least seven more times after that, which meant there was a lot of flatlining going on that shouldn’t have happened. The crew from Engine 5 began CPR on me immediately. I distinctly remember Eric yelling out to start CPR—strangely, that’s the only thing I recall from the entire process. Once we got situated in the ambulance, things took a turn for the worse, leading to my rerouting back to St. Jude’s.

“This crew never gave up on me. They did what they were trained to do, working hard to discern what was wrong and administer the necessary procedures to save my life. They provided CPR, medications, and oxygen. Not only did they execute everything correctly, but they also stayed with me and my family throughout the entire ordeal, which lasted about two hours before I was finally stabilized.

“It turned out that my heart had a failure in the electrical system on the right side. About two hours after the incident, they installed an external pacemaker, which helped my heart return to rhythm. Two days later, I received a couple more pacemakers, and from that point on, things improved.

“I’ve faced some tough challenges in my life, and not a day goes by that I don’t think about the event that nearly took my life and what it took to survive it. While I was in the hospital, I found myself thanking my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for getting me through this ordeal. I started reflecting on Engine 5 and the calls they respond to, which occur every day, each one unique in its way. When that bell rings, they never know what awaits them. In my case, it was truly a life-and-death situation. However, because of your training, education, and commitment to excellence, I stand here today to express my gratitude.

“First responders in the fire service deal with countless calls daily, many of which leave them unaware of the outcomes for the people they help. They drop you off at the hospital and move on to the next emergency, often not knowing how the story concludes. They witness a great deal of loss and, unfortunately, very few victories.

“We wanted to change that, and today, I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank each and every one of you for being there when we needed you the most. Without your efforts, I wouldn’t be here today as a husband, a father, and a grandfather. Engine 5 and the EMTs from Faulk truly saved my life. On behalf of my wife, Rhonda, my daughter, Christy, my son-in-law, Andrew—who was incredibly supportive throughout this process—and my beautiful granddaughters, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. I also want to acknowledge my sister, Judy, who cut short her fly-fishing trip in Colorado when she heard the news to be there for me.

“I can’t forget to mention the Orange City Fire Department, which came to my aid exactly one week after my hospitalization. I got out at about 5:00 PM on a Saturday, and the Orange City Fire team was kind enough to take me home. I also appreciate the crew from Engine 3 and Chief Sean P. deMetropolis, who showed their love and care for me and my family. To Lori, Mitch, Eric, Jake, and the entire crew, thank you for saving my life. What you do every day is often underappreciated, but I want you to know that your hard work and training made all the difference in my survival. I stand here today to affirm the importance of your roles.

“Our first responders face varying situations daily, and while my experience may not be unique, my life continues because of you. I appreciate the chance to stand before you tonight to express my gratitude for your support of the fire department and its members. I am a living testament to the professionalism and dedication of these people. Chief, thank you for giving me this time and opportunity. Thank you to my family and my crew. It’s a wonderful night to celebrate my life, and I am truly thankful.

“Now, as a token of appreciation, we wanted to give you something special. My sister, Judy, found it and thought it would be a great way for you to remember us. Go ahead and open it up—this will look fantastic in Station 5 and really dress it up. One of the things I’m passionate about is our flag; I love celebrating it. This particular flag is crafted from a fireman’s hose, with the stars made from wood. In the lower corner, it reads, ‘Thank You, Fullerton Engine 5, the Remlin Family, July 20, 2024.’ I hope you find a wonderful place to hang it in Station 5 so you’ll always remember our family, just as we remember you every time we drive by.”

The Mayor and Council presented the certificates.

Loeser said, “Gary served the city of Orange in many capacities and was very involved in the community. Upon his retirement, he and his family moved to the city of Fullerton. It’s great to have Fire Chief Sean de Metropolis here with his Engine 3 crew as well. This is a testament not only to the mutual aid system but also to the efficiency of the Orange County Fire Service.”

Awards were given to: Captain/Paramedic Lori Reese, Engineer/Paramedic Mitch Hacecky, Firefighter/Paramedic Eric Gianetti, Firefighter/Paramedic Jake Sujishi, Falck EMT Cade Bailor, and Falck EMT Aaron Cancino.

Congratulations to all of them!