Crash victim thanks firefighters and paramedics that saved his life

Excerpts from roster.com:

Cody Drummer didn’t remember most of the people who saved his life after he was pinned under a garbage truck last November, but he still felt a deep need to meet them and say thank you. Recently, that wish came true.

He was with his family when they unexpectedly pulled into the parking lot of Cherry Valley Fire Protection District Station 2 in Rockford. As he was helped from the back seat into a wheelchair, a group of about a dozen local firefighters and paramedics stood waiting. He shook their hands and expressed his heartfelt thanks for being part of the life-saving process.

Cody, a Rockford resident, was accompanied by his mother and his wife, Cassidy, who has been by his side for the past nine months. The couple is expecting their first child, a daughter, in June.

“In the days following Cody’s accident, I often sat by his bed, praying that we would get a chance to do this,” she said, fighting back tears. “It means everything to us. These people will always have a special place in our hearts.”

“This means my baby will have a dad,” Cassidy added. “I’m so grateful.”

The incident happened on November 9, when Cody was driving a garbage truck along Baxter Road. A pickup truck crossed into his lane and collided with him, pushing his vehicle onto its side. While the second passenger in the truck was unharmed, Cody became trapped underneath. A Maggio’s tow truck helped lift some of the weight, and for nearly an hour, Cherry Valley firefighters worked to free him from the wreckage. He was then airlifted to the hospital by a LifeFlight helicopter. Fire departments from Cherry Valley, New Milford, and Stillman Valley all responded to the scene.

“I just wanted to thank them,” Cody said. “They don’t have to do this. They do it because they care about saving lives. They’re real heroes, and I just wanted to say thanks.”

Despite his left leg in a splint and his neck in a brace, Cody was wheeled around the fire station to express his gratitude. Before his arrival, a LifeFlight helicopter similar to the one that rescued him landed in the parking lot, allowing him to see the aircraft up close.

Among those he met was Steve Reuss, a firefighter and paramedic from Cherry Valley who was the first to speak with Cody. Reuss also transported the driver of the other vehicle to the hospital. It was later revealed that the driver had a medical condition that caused the collision; he is now recovering from his injuries.

Reuss shared that this was only the second time in 20 years he had been able to follow up with someone he helped save. “It’s nice,” he said. “After doing this for so long, you rarely get to see how people turn out. With privacy laws these days, you can’t really check in. You only find out through the news or obituaries.”

Lt. Lane Person from the Stillman Valley Fire Department was at the scene of the accident. He also works for a private ambulance company in Loves Park that has been transporting Cody to his appointments in Rockford and Madison, Wisconsin.

“I feel great,” he said. “I’m really thankful for this opportunity. It makes me even more excited to be here with my family.”

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