Lamb's Love Bug Shirt
The traffic light turned red as Lamb and I approached the top of the hill at the intersection of State College and Bastenchury in Fullerton. It was a hot, humid mid-afternoon. The 4th of July weekend was heavy with traffic.
We observed a middle-aged man walking with his dog. The black-and-white poodle, known as a party poodle, walked happily beside his owner as they began their way down the hill.
We then saw a lady crest the hill, running in the same direction as the man. Suddenly, she stopped, a bewildered expression on her face. She then fell head first into the manicured angel wing jasmine that decorated the corner of the intersection!
The light turned green. Lamb hit the accelerator, jammed on the vehicle’s hazard lights, honked the horn sharply, and made an abrupt left. He crossed three lanes to pull to the curb, at breakneck speed jumped out of the van, as I picked up my cell phone to dial 911.
Lamb quickly rolled the lady onto her back. She was limp, flushed, and unable to focus. He was unable to feel her breath against his ear. She was unresponsive to his questions. He gently pumped her legs back and forth in a bicycle motion. It was imperative that she start to breathe.
The 911 dispatcher connected me to the closest fire station, which was at the bottom of the hill, adjacent to Cal-State Fullerton. The medic cautioned not to give her water, fearful she could choke.
Lamb talked to her calmly as he moved her legs. He assured her she would be okay. She began to come around.
I handed him a napkin, wet with cool water, and he pressed it to her forehead. He moved behind her, situated her in an upright position, and cradled her in his arms.
The fire engine and medics arrived. The man with the dog was flushed from his run back up the hill. He looked frightened. She was his wife. The pup whimpered and pulled on the leash as the medics worked on his mistress.
Lamb went to her husband, soothed and assured him she would be fine. They exchanged names. The medics stood her up, and although unsteady, she embraced her husband and held on.
We knew she was in good hands, so we got back in our company van and left.
One week later, coincidentally on Lamb’s birthday, he received a package containing a size large Disney love-bug shirt. It was a thank-you gift from Nyoko – the Japanese name for gem.
It is a gift he will treasure always.
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