Portsmouth, Virginia Mark Reynolds has been a firefighter for more than ten years, and he always stays calm and feels a strong sense of duty to his community when he responds to calls. He had been in a lot of risky circumstances at Station 17 for twelve years, but nothing could have prepared him for how stunned he felt one Thursday night on the road.
The night started off like any other. The alarm went off when the people at Station 17 were finishing their normal checks. There was a crash on the freeway that involved more than one vehicle. Reynolds, a firefighter with a lot of experience, promptly put on his gear and joined his crew, ready to handle the situation with care.
When Engine 17 got there, everything were all over the place. When Engine 17 got there, they observed a lot of cars stuck together, smoke pouring from one hood, and people standing about in amazement. Reynolds and his teammates quickly divided up their work: watching the traffic, checking on the injured, and making sure the area was safe. In the midst of the controlled mayhem, Reynolds saw something: a heart-shaped pendant slowly swaying from the rearview mirror.
It was easy to see the pendant right away. He bought it as a gift for his wife, Lisa. He was shocked and didn’t believe it at first, but then his professional training kicked in. Reynolds slowly walked up to the car and noticed that his wife was driving, which was what he had been worried about.
Reynolds remarked later, “You can never really be ready to see someone you love like that.” “It made me think about how fragile life is and how quickly things can change.”
It was good that Lisa was awake and could talk to me. The hit didn’t hurt her much, and the paramedics got there straight away. Reynolds felt better as he spoke in a calm voice, calling on years of experience even though it was a very personal occasion for him.
Reynolds had a few extra minutes with his wife since the other firefighters assisted out until everything was safe. Reynolds and Lisa both thought the event was a reminder of how unpredictable life can be and how vital it is to be grateful.
“This event made me appreciate my family more and reminded me of why we do this work,” Reynolds said. “Every call is important.” We don’t only aid people we don’t know; we change their lives, even people who are close to us.
The Portsmouth Fire Department thought the anecdote was an excellent reminder that the barrier between work and personal life may be very thin. There wasn’t a dramatic rescue or a tragedy with a lot of fire, but the event showed the human side of emergency response, when duty, love, and dedication came together.
The silver heart pendant used to be a symbol that someone special had given it to you. Now it stands for strength, kindness, and the fine line between work and home life. Mark Reynolds still believes it’s a terrible reminder of how dangerous it is for firemen and how essential family is.
