MID-HUDSON – An 18-year-old firefighter/EMT was escorted back to his home from Westchester on Friday evening after receiving care for his recent Leukemia diagnosis. Multiple agencies joined in a caravan of emergency vehicles to bring the ambitious first responder back to Dutchess County.
The Hughsonville Fire Department is where John Sample has been providing care to his community when needed. Sample, whose father is a firefighter with Castle Point and his mother is a dedicated employee of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. The diagnosis shocked John, his family, and the Hughsonville Fire Department.
The young first responder had recently received his first round of treatment at Westchester Medical Center and was discharged on Friday. A large contingent of fire departments and law enforcement sent personnel and equipment to Valhalla Friday afternoon to escort their friend back to his Dutchess County residence.
Hughsonville Fire Department member Tom Gallman and Commissioner Vincent Galvin spread the request to departments throughout the region and explained that it would need to convene at a moment’s notice. “We did not have a lot of notice regarding the time John was going to be discharged so we geared up in a hurry,” Galvin told Mid-Hudson News.
The brigade of emergency trucks, ambulances, and police motorcycles were able to rally late Friday afternoon to bring John home for some much-needed rest.
Participating Fire Departments:
- Hughsonville
- New Hamburg
- Tivoli
- Pine Plains
- Putnam Lake
- Patterson
- WT Garner
- Castle Point
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County REACT, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and Northern Dutchess Paramedics also helped bring the young patient home.
Pictures provided by Hughsonville Fire Commissioner Vincent Galvin:
