The Editor,
I am writing this letter in recognition of two employees who work for the city of Coquitlam at Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex as lifeguards.
On Nov. 30, my 71-year-old mother Neda went to the aquafit program at the pool as she has been doing for over the past year. She left the program early and went to the change room, where she started to feel dizzy. She took a seat on a bench, where she became short of breath and asked for help.
It was at this point that employee Margaret Philip noticed the pale look and signs of something not right. Margaret got the attention of lifeguard Aliya Boulanger, who dropped her task immediately and took action with administering oxygen. She stayed with her until BC Ambulance Advanced Life Support arrived and took further action. My mother lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital after being shocked four times.
After the medics took over, Aliya went above and beyond when my father showed up. She not only comforted him in this time of distress but she assisted him in locating my mother’s belongings, made sure he was alright and assured him she was in good hands.
My mother was placed in the trauma room and was put on life support. She had suffered a heart attack. She spent five days in hospital and, to the amazement of the doctors, paramedics and medical staff, she is now at home with her husband at her side and reflecting on that day. She beat the odds.
When the medics spoke to me at the hospital, they explained the lifeguard attending to my mother had performed everything perfectly and started vital care procedures immediately, which proved to have played a major role in my mother’s survival.
The timeline for survival was a small window. From Margaret noticing her facial signs to Aliya starting oxygen to the medics who rushed her to Royal Columbian Hospital, they found the small window of hope and did everything within the time frame to give our mother, wife, grandmother and friend to many another shot at life.
Even when I met with the two women at the pool a week later to thank them and let them know of their important roll in her survival, they were both more concerned in Neda’s wellbeing.
These two angels will truly always be in the hearts of our family.
George Dujmovic and Family, Coquitlam
