Dimensions Healthcare System

By Jeffrey Lyles
Staff Writer - The Gazette Newspapers

Red Cross honors 'Everyday Heroes'

It wasn't a regular day for Roxane Trosky as she made her way to work on April 15.

While driving, Trosky saw a man trapped in a burning truck.

"My immediate thought was to get the guy out of the truck and get him stabilized," Trosky said. "As I was getting him stabilized, I noticed another man standing by going into cardiac arrest."

With a speed that Superman would envy, Trosky had two other bystanders stabilize the driver while she aided the man who was turning purple from a heart attack. "I ran up and started CPR on the guy," Trosky said. "It was a crazy day."

The day was about to get even more interesting as the registered respiratory therapist arrived to work at Prince George's Hospital Center and learned that the man she stabilized earlier in the day would be one of her patients that day.

"I called around and found out that the guy I started CPR on made it. I was half expecting to hear that he had expired, but he made it, and we continue to stay in contact," Trosky said. "He is a really wonderful person and calls me his angel."

Trosky, who received the EMT award, was one of 25 heroes honored by the American Red Cross Prince George's County Chapter as part of its "Real Everyday Heroes" ceremony on Nov. 14 at the Greenbelt Marriott.

County Executive-elect Jack Johnson said the extraordinary thing about heroes is that people view them as extraordinary, but they are really ordinary people with the same lives as everyone else.

"They fight traffic, go to work, care for their kids, but they do a little more," Johnson said. "They step outside their surroundings and realize other people are in need. They realize their lives are not complete unless they help others. The people we celebrate are the ordinary people who do the extraordinary."

While being a hero wasn't on her mind when she saw the car in front of her hit a girl that sent her flying into the air, Occupational Therapist Ada Ezeani knew immediately what she had to do, even if it wasn't her normal job requirement.

"It was scary. I had never seen anything like that. It was just instinctual that I had to go and help her," Ezeani said. "I tried to hold her hand and get a response. She was bleeding around the head area, and I could tell that she had some broken bones in the lower area. A few people tried to move her, but I told them not to because of her broken bones."

Unable to learn any information on the girl's condition by calling the Prince George's Hospital Center during the weekend, Ezeani looked for a referral that matched the victim. Upon finding the information, Ezeani placed the patient in her caseload so she could ensure that the child received the best care.

"That was therapy for me, and I'm glad it worked out for her," said Ezeani, who received the "Healthcare Provider" award.

"I'm honored to be getting this award. It's a big surprise for me. The best part of it for me was being able to treat her and knowing she was OK."

Magic 102.3 radio-personality Mike Chase, the emcee of the event, said every person is a hero to someone.

Especially for Cpl. Thomas Brown. His hero would also be man's best friend, his eight-year-old longhaired German shepherd, Max.

As part of a task force that searched the Langley Park area for 29 hours looking for a man suspected of fatally shooting two county sheriff deputies in August, Max helped capture the man despite being kicked in the face by the suspect. For their efforts, Brown and Max were awarded the "Heart for Humanity - Law Enforcement Award."

"The dog deserves it more than I do because he was the one who put himself at risk," Brown said. "The canines put themselves in harm's way to protect humans and don't get much recognition, so it's good to see them getting it."

Another human/canine crime-fighting duo, officer Robert Heverly and his three-year-old Belgian Malinois, Andy, received the "Medal of Courage - Law Enforcement Award" for their work tracking down a carjacking suspect in Landover Hills.

Recognizing William Kainu's heroics, the Red Cross awarded him the "Life Saver of the Year Award." Kainu donated his kidney to his his sister, Maggie, last December.

Even amongst a conglomerate of heroes, there were some deserving of special recognition.

Dr. Maria Escalera, Dr. Vincent Sayan and Dr. P. Thomas Lyons received the "Clara Barton Life Saver Award" for their efforts in saving the life of the 13 year old who was shot at Benjamin Tasker Middle School by the snipers. In addition to receiving the award, the trio received a standing ovation by the audience. The Prince George's County Police Department also received a standing ovation to go along with its "Clara Barton Life Saver Award" for their work during the sniper investigations.

The other award recipients were:

• "Occupational Service": Dustyn Hugee of Temple Hills.

• "Beyond the Call": Oscar Hurtado of Temple Hills, Tim Thomas of Stevensville and Will Wright of Capitol Heights.

• "Global Animal Rescue": Dr. Charles Colao of Marlow Heights.

• "Emergency Response": Brian Frankel and Capt. Michael Mattison of Landover.

• "Bio-Medical Services Awareness": Gay Boles of Laurel.

• "Good Samaritan - Adult": Kimberly Mosley of Upper Marlboro.

• "Community Spirit Award": Laura Brown of Suitland.

• "Youth Empowerment and Education": Mark Nagurny of Laurel.

• "Good Samaritan - Youth": Marie Jean-Claude.

• "Citizen Rescuer - Fire": volunteer Capt. Rych Pullen of Landover.

• "Healthcare Angel": Michele Larson of Cheverly.

• "Citizen's Hero - Disaster Response": Reginald Parks of Oxon Hill.

• "Local Animal Rescue": Susan Woodson-Nelson of Clinton.

• "Water Safety": Rhonda Burton of Laurel.

• "Chairman's Award": Isabella Callahan of Brentwood.

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