How to Save a Life
It seems like a majority of news media covers shootings, murders, homicides, and accidents. Well, how about sharing some positive things that happen in our community like acts of selfless giving, service, or maybe a story about someone saving a life? I guarantee that the good things people are doing FAR outweigh the craziness we mostly hear about. What I’m about to share with you was no accident, and the experience involves a member of our practice…and someone I consider my brother from another mother.
Dr. Matt: So, Sunday morning you woke up and decided you wanted to go fishing?
Garrett: Actually it was more like, 5:00pm.
Dr. Matt: Wow, you sleep in late! Do you go fishing often on the Boise River?
Garrett: Nope, this was the first time. My two buddies, Christian and Lane, and me thought we would just go check it out on the Boise River behind the Two Rivers Spa in Eagle.
Dr. Matt: So are you an avid fisherman?
Garrett: No, definitely not. And us going fishing was totally random. We caught a total of zero fish. (laughing) See actually, we were supposed to float the river that day but then decided to go to a rope swing off of Linder. We were there for 5 minutes and got bored so we went down to Eagle to go fishing. We went to the river and were there for about an hour or so before things got crazy.
Dr. Matt: Let’s hear it.
Garrett: So I was standing on the bank of the river and heard a guy start yelling, “Help! Help!” broken up by gulps of water from bobbing in the water. He was about 20 yards away, and was in the current of the river so he was moving pretty quick. Thing is, he wasn’t alone. He had two kids with him, one in each arm. His head was bobbing up and down as he was screaming for help, and they looked like they were drowning.
Dr. Matt: I assume that he was trying to keep his kids above water?
Garrett: Yea, he was. And at first I just kind of stood there thinking that this was a joke or something. It took 2 seconds for me to realize that it wasn’t a joke.
Dr. Ogle: What were you feeling at this point?
Garrett: It got serious and I thought, “Ok, time for action!”
Dr. Ogle: I like that. So what did you do now?
Garrett: Ran and jumped into the river. One of the kids was able to grab on to a fallen tree that was in the river, but the other kid wasn’t able to and the dad continued to struggle to hold him above water. By the time I got to them the dad was underwater, almost limp, like he was dead…but when I flipped him over he took a huge breath of air and started screaming again.
Dr. Ogle: Did he not realize you were there or what?
Garrett: I’m not sure really, I didn’t think about it then. I just grabbed them both by the waist, one in each arm, took a deep breath and started kicking back towards the bank as hard as I could.
Dr. Ogle: What do you mean you took a deep breath?
Garrett: Well, I was basically under water the entire time in order to keep those two above water. It was pretty crazy.
Dr. Ogle: And judging by the size of your legs, you kicked two times and you were back at shore? (Laughing)
Garrett: (Laughing) Yeah right. That’s funny.
Dr. Matt: So you get back to the river bank, then what?
Garrett: I got to a point where I could touch and the dad started screaming and freaking out again! I said “Dude, chill out, I’ve got you. You’re okay! Stand up. You’re fine, you’re safe!”
Dr. Matt: That’s crazy my friend. I’m sure he was in shock.
Garrett: Oh, absolutely! All of a sudden, he put his feet down then started running up to the embankment into the trees and was screaming, “I’m dead! I’m dead!” and I was like “No dude, you’re not dead, you’re fine!” Then he started screaming, “The kids! The kids!” So I yelled at him and said, “Dude, you’re kids are fine!” and I showed him his kids.
Dr. Matt: So how old were the kids?
Garrett: 10 and 7.
Dr. Matt: Could they swim?
Garrett: I asked them later, and they said they couldn’t, but the dad said that he could.
Dr. Matt: So was everybody okay in the end?
Garrett: Yea, they were cut up and just really scared.
Dr. Matt: So what did your girlfriend think about this whole thing?
Garrett: I don’t have a girlfriend. (Laughing)
Dr. Matt: You’re a beast of a man, saved a family’s life, and you don’t have a girlfriend? That’s too bad; I hope we can help change that for ya. So what did you learn from this experience?
Garrett: Well, teach your kids how to swim! If they can’t swim, things like this happen.
Dr. Matt: Good call. So have you thought about doing something like this for a living? Like a lifeguard, or firefighter?
Garrett: (Laughing) I was a lifeguard before, and I got so bored with it. But I haven’t thought about being a firefighter. That would be pretty exciting.
Dr. Matt: Well we look forward to hearing about many more lives saved by you in the future and we’re grateful to have you as a member of our practice.
Garrett Garner grew up in Meridian, Idaho and is planning on attending Snow College in the fall and playing football as well. He has been training for the upcoming season, and is ready for the next phase in his life. It is clear to me that Garrett thinks more about others than he thinks of himself. THAT is how you save a life! You care more about others than yourself. You strive to serve others as if you were serving your own loved ones. You don’t hesitate and think that someone else will take care of it. You do what your deep rooted conscience is telling you, and you do it without hesitation. Live selflessly and you will find greater satisfaction in life because these people around you need you. Thank you Garrett for the great example of selfless service and heroism.