In December of 2021, Stephanie Ranson went to bed feeling uneasy about how she felt. She had been having trouble with her heart, and in the night, she woke up feeling bad. As she got out of bed, she collapsed, and luckily, her dad, Fallon’s Steve Ranson, heard her hit the floor and ran to help, calling 9-1-1.
Stephanie had stopped breathing, but his old military training kicked in, and he immediately started administering CPR. Fallon policemen Sgt. Josh Schumann, Officer Kurt Itskin, and Officer Michael Woolf arrived and took over the life-saving efforts. As soon as the paramedics arrived in the ambulance, they took over, but Stephanie was suffering badly and needed the paramedics, so there was no one to drive the ambulance.
The policemen stepped in to take over the ambulance driving so the paramedics could support Stephanie on the way to the hospital.
Because of their lifesaving efforts that night, Stephanie survived.
However, problems with her heart continued, so when the Fallon PD called her in July of this year to ask if she would attend a ceremony to honor the officers who were there that night to save her, she and her dad were at Renown, in the cardiac ICU where Stephanie was again in heart failure.
The call went to voicemail.
Last week at the City of Fallon Council Meeting, Stephanie was finally well and was able to stand next to the officers who saved her life that December night in 2021.
In presenting the Lifesaving Award, Chief of Police Ron Wenger said, “There is an expectation when we put on the badge for Fallon PD that we will protect and serve our community. Part of that is traffic enforcement, protecting our children, responding to domestic violence and bar fights, and we are always hoping we get there in time so no one gets hurt. Every once in a while, we have to transition from protectors of life to lifesaver.”
He spoke briefly about the incident in December of 2021, saying, “It is my honor to bring these three officers forward who heroically saved the life of Stephanie Ranson that night. Without your efforts, Miss Ranson would not be alive today. You were a true blessing to her and her family.”
Mayor Tedford also thanked the officers for their heroism that night. “We really appreciate your efforts. It really shows what a fine police department we have.”
Steve Ranson then read a letter on behalf of Stephanie, thanking the officers. He read her words with great emotion and to a crowd of supporters, “Without you and your life-saving efforts, I would not be here today. I also want to thank you for changing my life for the better. I now look at life with a more positive attitude.”
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