THUNDER BAY – LIVING – There is a woman that I know. I’ve known her since I was 10 months old.
We’ve crawled together, biked together, camped together and went to school together. We chased boys, got into to trouble and helped each other find ourselves along the way when we got lost- together.
Even though I was older she always seemed wiser and our friends would agree, she was the “mom” of our group, she was the rational one, the “smart one”.
She always knew what she wanted and had a plan to get it. From a very young age she was different.
She is not a millionaire, she is not an entrepreneur, she is not an inventor.
She is a local Paramedic and has been for over 10 years.
She goes to work everyday with the intention of helping people in need and saving the lives of your loved ones. She walks into unimaginable situations and manages to stay calm and aid those in crisis. She will walk miles through the forest with a stretcher to rescue a stranger if you have fallen and carry you back out ensuring that you get care. She works 12 hour shifts that sometimes go longer depending on your loved ones needs and she has collapsed due to emotions once she is off work and out of sight.
She is strong and she is a woman that cares.
She goes home every night to her two little boys that are kindergarten age and younger and makes sure they are taken care of and have what they need before taking care of herself. She takes care of her Mother, sisters, brother and Grandmother as best as she can and she is there 100% for you as a friend. She is an amazing human that puts others before herself constantly and I know her partner and colleagues are the same.
First Responders; Fire Fighters, Police Officers and Paramedics
Business awards, volunteer awards, strength awards, medals for this, trophies for that… In a society that revolves around awarding behavior and talent you’d think that this group of incredible people would be at the forefront of our minds when it comes time to nominate someone for an “outstanding ______” award; sadly though they usually are not.
They are our everyday saviors in uniforms and in times of need we are relieved to have one in sight.
I can’t nominate all of them even though most deserve an award but clearly I do have one Angel in mind;
Her name is Christa Dawn Losier-Banning aka Dawn Nitz and in my books she deserves an Extraordinary Woman and an Everyday Hero Award for she truly is an Inspirational Woman.
Kateri Skaarup