Mokena honors first responders who helped save mayor’s life in February
MOKENA, Ill. — Everything had to go just right for Mayor Frank Fleischer to be able to fully recover from a severe health event earlier this year. Now, with several months of therapy behind him and having made his return to the Village Board dais, Fleischer recognized those whose actions helped save his life.
The Village of Mokena awarded the first responders to Fleischer’s Feb. 11 medical incident with lifesaving awards during the Monday, June 27 Village Board of Trustees meeting. The first responders were: Mokena Patrol Officer Caitlin Wynn; Laraway Communications Center telecommunicator Cindy Wilson; and the Mokena Fire Protection District’s Lt. Richard Gotter, Engineer Timothy Wiencek, firefighter David Porter, Lt. John Swanson, Engineer Scott Bukowski, firefighter Jacob Ruhbeck, Lt. James Cresto, Engineer Kenneth Berger, firefighter Adam Meyer, and Assistant Chief Rick Campbell.
“Most members of the community know that our public safety professionals go through extensive training to prepare them to do some very difficult jobs under pretty stressful conditions,” Mokena Interim Police Chief Brian Benton said during the awards ceremony. “One area of training that all of our public safety professionals must train and certify in is CPR. The purpose of this training is so that when called upon, no matter the situation, we are ready and prepared to respond to provide the best service possible.”
Benton said “exceptional CPR-related work” was performed by first responders on Feb. 11, when Fleischer collapsed at his home after going into heart failure.
When that occurred, Benton said Wilson received the 911 call from Fleischer’s wife, Laurie.
“[He] had fallen, was unconscious, and did not appear to be breathing,” Benton said. “Wilson asked specific and direct questions regarding the status of [Fleischer] and immediately recognized the gravity of the situation. Wilson calmly took charge, and while simultaneously arranging EMS to be dispatched to the residence, she [also] began directing the caller on how to start administering CPR. She gave detailed instructions on how to position [Fleischer], where to place [Laurie’s] hands and how deep to apply pressure. She continued by talking through the instructions while counting the repetitions for each round of CPR.”
Benton said Wynn arrived soon after and took over CPR, while Wilson continued counting over speakerphone.
“This went on for multiple rounds of CPR while Officer Wynn administered critical chest compressions,” Benton said. “Shortly thereafter, the paramedics arrived on scene. They confirmed that the patient was in cardiac arrest, and they began administering advanced life support.”
Benton said the medical crew worked for more than 10 minutes to stabilize Fleischer, so they could transport him by ambulance to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
“It is difficult to imagine the potential outcome of this call had it not been for the quick thinking and immediate call to 911 — I can’t emphasize that enough — coupled with the response of a very well-trained public safety staff that came together that day as a team,” Benton said.
Laurie Fleischer, who also spoke during the ceremony, thanked all the first responders and the care teams at various facilities responsible for her husband’s recovery.
“We are very fortunate to live in a community that is surrounded by such high-level facilities,” she said. “Each and every one of you were part of a miracle recovery. One percent of people survive in the way my husband did. You were there for us, and I know my entire family will never be able to thank you enough.”
Laurie Fleischer also thanked those who prayed for her husband, sent cards or helped in any way they could. She also thanked Village Board and staff for respecting her request to keep the mayor’s recovery private.
“Because the only way I could survive this with what I was doing and what my husband was going through … was to keep it somewhat quiet,” she said. “I did tell the Village that if at any moment I didn’t think he could make it, I would let them know.”
During his comments to the Village Board at the end of the meeting, Frank Fleischer said he was “here because of [the first responders].”
“They have saved other people, and they are amazing,” he said. “Silver Cross constantly is training our first responders in different medical procedures … and, as it was brought up earlier, it is a team effort. We are very lucky to have first responders like that, and I thank God for it.”
He also asked residents to be mindful of the work first responders do in the community.
“Sometimes, we take things for granted because these people are so darn good,” he said. “But let’s not forget them. When you see them on the street, [say] hello and thank you.”