By Imani Tate
The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
VERNON, Calif. — “If you’re going to cut a hole in the roof, you’re going to need this,” said Vernon Fire Department Capt. Steve Ruffoni, handing a big ax to an excited Noah Ramos of La Verne.
Ruffoni, engineers Pete Torres and Brad Miller and firefighters Norm Sutherlin and Derek Meyer of the department’s hazard materials response unit weighed the 11-year-old La Verne boy down with firefighter’s boots, jackets, safety pants and a man-sized helmet during a day the entire department celebrated Noah’s recovery from aplastic anemia.
Before Torres and Ruffoni handed Noah the ax, Miller said “make sure he can see it” and lifted the helmet that had slipped over Noah’s face.
“Now run,” Miller playfully suggested as Noah slowly stepped slowly around Station 2’s garage area. Stretching out steadying hands, Ruffoni promised “We’ll hold you up so you don’t fall down.”
Noah made no attempt to disguise his excitement about being feted by Vernon Battalion Chief Mike Wilson and firefighters from four stations.
On July 9, Noah, his brother Chase Ramos, sisters Chloe and Emma Palomino, mother Alaina Ramos, stepfather Kevin Palomino and family friends Charif, Lina, Ryan, Onar and Sami Masri toured fire stations, descended the emergency pole, climbed all over fire engines and munched on carne asade tacos, refried beans, Spanish rice and desserts prepared by firefighters. His stepbrother Christian Palomino, 17, didn’t attend so Noah’s best friend, Brandon De La Cruz, could go.
The smiles never disappeared from Noah’s or firefighters’ faces as they joyously commemorated Noah’s miraculous survival.
“Thanks for everything, for letting me come down here and ride in the fire truck,” Noah breathlessly said, his eyes bright as they lingered on each fireman. “It was real cool and I had a great time.”
In September 2009, Children’s Hospital’s hematologist Thomas Hofstra conducted tests which determined Noah had aplastic anemia, a potentially fatal disorder that stops the body’s production of white blood cells which fight infection, red blood cells which provide oxygen and platelets which clots the blood.
Dr. Scott Schiebe, a La Verne pediatrician, suspected aplastic anemia when Palomino brought then-9-year-old Noah in after he’d experienced extreme vomiting, fever and nose bleeds at La Verne Heights Elementary School. Schiebe was a resident physician when he saw a case of the disease requiring multiple transfusions, chemotherapy and radiation treatment and, if all this fails, a bone marrow transplant.
He told Palomino and Ramos to rush Noah to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and called to alert emergency physicians they were coming.
After the diagnosis and during the first year of arduous chemotherapy, radiation and medical crises, Hofstra served as Noah’s primary-care physician and led the compassionate team of medical experts attending Noah.
During Noah’s harrowing two-year ordeal La Verne teachers, students, parents, business owners, clergy and parishioners, athletes, coaches, civic leaders and community activists rallied to Noah’s aid. They donated blood and platelets, tested as bone marrow donors and raised money to help with medical expenses.
Dr. Ami Shah, acting head of Children’s Hospital’s Division of Research Immunology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, supervised Noah’s successful bone marrow transplant on July 1, 2010 and the post-transplant medical team caring for him.
She recently authorized his return to school. Noah will be a seventh-grader at Ramona Middle School, starting Aug. 22, and celebrate his 12th birthday on Oct. 8.
“I’m just glad to be alive,” Noah confessed.
The cities of Vernon and La Verne are not geographically close and are demographically different. Vernon is a city with much industry and few residents. La Verne is a bedroom community with little industry and lots of people.
But Vernon firefighters shared the sentiments of La Verne residents whose hearts opened wide to help a child they didn’t know.
Ruffoni and several Vernon firefighters learned about Noah while attending a 2010 benefit for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Noah was the guest of honor.
The firefighters’ long-time connection to children served at the hospital and their natural penchant for service stretched out to help Noah. They also promised to cook for him as soon as his immunity system was strong enough to allow contact with others.
On July 9, they made good on the promise.
The day sparked tons of fun for Noah, Palomino, Masri, Chase, Brandon, Sami, Onar and Ryan. Alaina and Lina devoted their time to cooing to and caring for Emma, Noah’s new 3-month-old sister, while the men and boys “played firefighter,” slid down the Station 2 pole, checked engine company compartments and equipment and inspected fire hoses.
“This is fantastic! This is so cool!” Chase shouted as he descended the pole, then looked up, spying Noah.
“Come on, man!” the 14-year-old shouted up to his brother. “It looks a lot scarier from up there.”
Chase then gentled his voice and whispered, “He has to work up the courage.” Chase’s encouraging words helped Noah overcome his fear, grab the pole and start sliding. As soon as his feet hit the floor, he took off, ran back up the stairs and came down the pole again.
The boys’ bravery prompted Palomino’s descent. Visitors and firemen then shared laughs and patted each other on the back.
Although he admitted “my kids call me the mad scientist,” Masri said his role as a Children’s Hospital clinical lab scientist supervising blood drives and bone marrow screenings with Raul Gonzalez of the hospital’s Blood Donor Center is rewarding.
It was especially so when a perfect 10-for-10 bone marrow match was found for Noah, he said.
Saving and celebrating children’s lives top firefighters’ priority list.
Supported with additional funds from the Vernon Firefighters Association and encouraged by Fire Chief Mark Whitworth, firefighters cooked 13 pounds of meat for carne asada tacos, Noah’s favorite. They also prepared huge pans of beans, rice and chicken tacos and delectable desserts.
“We didn’t shoot the bull, but we did everything else,” Sutherlin quipped.
So many firefighters wanted to participate, Ruffoni moved the celebration to the larger headquarters station.
“We were excited about Noah coming,” Torres said. “He was pretty weak and hadn’t been well enough for us to do anything before now, but he’s improved so much. This is a tough and courageous little guy.”
Ruffoni said all the Vernon firemen have children and care about all children.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re our kids or someone else’s,” he said. “I guess we kind of adopted Noah as one of our own.”
“If you watch the movie `Pay It Forward’ that says it all,” Miller interjected.
Torres lives his life according to one simple rule - the golden one which guides his compassionate response to people in general and particularly children.
Sutherlin and engineer Paul Woida said all children are innocent and all adults should help and protect them.
“You can’t go wrong helping kids,” Sutherlin added.
Service is nothing new for Vernon firemen.
Meyer’s hair is just growing back after he shaved it to raise money for St. Baldrick’s, a nonprofit organization helping children with cancer.
The department does frequent Fill the Boot campaigns to generate dollars for muscular dystrophy.
Woida has donated platelets at Children’s Hospital since engineer Andy Smith asked him to help a young girl with leukemia six years ago.
Unfortunately the girl didn’t survive, but Woida’s regard for children facing catastrophic diseases didn’t wane. He hoped his platelets were among those that kept Noah alive.
Wilson said Vernon firemen focus on children for their charitable efforts. They collect toys for the department’s Spark of Love donations to needy children during the Christmas season and give toys to children in crisis throughout the year.
Blood drives, bone marrow testing and fundraisers for Children’s Hospital, hair donations to Locks of Love and shaving heads for St. Baldrick’s happen throughout the year, Wilson added.
“When you see a child’s pain, you want to do something about it,” Wilson said.
The firemen had a special helmet made up for Noah that replicates the one they wear.
“This should be about your size,” engineer Troy Durbin said as Ruffoni placed the helmet on Noah’s head.
“We wanted to give you something so you’d remember us,” Ruffoni said. “Be sure you keep in touch with us. When you’re a star NFL football player, we’ll come down to the 50-yard line and celebrate you.”
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