This Thank a Paramedic Day, a Glen Waverley family has reunited with the crews who came to their aid in November last year when their six-month-old daughter, Elara, experienced an allergic reaction.
Parents Yohan and Priya Sivakumar were introducing solid foods to Elara when she had an allergic reaction to egg, causing her to vomit and her face to break out in hives.
Seeing how distressed and uncomfortable their daughter was, Yohan and Priya decided to call Triple Zero (000), concerned the symptoms might worsen.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics Aimee Dwyer and Terri Hayden were on scene within minutes and, after assessing Elara, administered adrenaline and monitored her vitals while transporting her to Monash Medical Centre Clayton.
"My wife and I were still in shock, processing what had just happened, but the paramedics' calm and reassuring presence made a big difference," Yohan said.
"They treated Elara with care and sensitivity and helped us feel safe and supported through it all."
Aimee said anaphylactic reactions can be unpredictable, so it's important to recognise and treat them accordingly.
"The risk with any anaphylactic case is that it can continue to progress and the patient's condition can worsen," Aimee said.
"Elara met the criteria for an anaphylactic reaction, so we knew we needed to quickly administer the adrenaline, with her responding well to the treatment."
Terri said she was blown away to hear the family's kind feedback.
"It's wonderful to hear the fantastic commendation from the family and know that we had such an impact on their lives," she said.
"While we never expect to be thanked for the job we do, days like today are a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community we serve."
Elara recently celebrated her first birthday, with the family making a generous donation of $500 in her name to Ambulance Victoria to mark the occasion.
"Since becoming parents, we've tried to instil in our children the value of giving back - and we often do so on their behalf," Yohan said.
"It was important to us that this gift came from Elara, and that one day, she can look back and understand the role Ambulance Victoria played in her early life.
"Paramedics and emergency services are often underappreciated, and this small gesture was our way of saying thank you for the care shown to Elara and our family.
"We hope this becomes a tradition for her birthdays in the years to come."
Thank a Paramedic Day is an annual event in Victoria to acknowledge and appreciate the dedication and service of paramedics across the state.
It encourages Victorians to express their gratitude for the crucial role paramedics play as first responders.
"It's frightening to think what might have happened if we hadn't made that call," Yohan said.
"You never truly know when you'll need a paramedic, but when you do, they become the most important people in the world at that moment.
"The work they do - quietly, professionally, and without fanfare - far outweighs most of what the rest of us do.
"They deserve our gratitude and recognition every day, not just on Thank a Paramedic Day."
AV Senior Team Manager Brett Whibley said donations to AV contribute to potentially life-saving outcomes in local communities.
"Our work is strengthened by the community's support, and we thank everyone who has contributed in some way," he said.
"Every contribution, big or small, goes towards investing in advanced training tools, specialised equipment and resources, which help paramedics provide Best Care to the community."
