Man thanks Ada County Paramedics for saving his life

MERIDIAN, Idaho (KBOI) — It's been a long road to recovery for a Treasure Valley man who nearly lost his life in a motorcycle crash 3 1/2 years ago.

As part of his healing process, today, Rob Savage is thanking the paramedics who saved his life.

The crash happened on November 8th, 2014.

Savage says he and his passenger were traveling down Overland Road in Meridian when they decided to take a turn that would change their path forever.

To avoid traffic, instead of turning onto Eagle Road, Savage went right on Locust Grove.

As Savage and his passenger moved past the intersection, suddenly, they were struck by an oncoming SUV.

Savage was thrown more than 35-feet. The impact was severe. Savage had several broken limbs, ribs, a broken back, and a head injury. He later had to have his leg amputated. His passenger lost her foot in the crash, but was otherwise okay.

He says most of it is a blur after that, but he can remember seeing ambulance lights and knowing, this time it was him they were coming for.

"There are a lot of things I don't remember because of the impact," said Rob Savage. "It's been a road traveled that the only way I can feel better is to fill those gaps where I don't have any knowledge or memory of what happened."

Savage says he remembers very little from the night he almost lost his life.

As part of his road to recovery, he reached out to Ada County Paramedics to find out if there was any chance he could meet the men and women who rescued him. He hoped they would be able to help him connect the missing pieces.

On Monday, he had that opportunity. For the first time that he is able to remember, Savage met the five Ada County paramedics who saved his life.

Ada County Paramedics Robert Vander Stelt, Kevin Luby, Carol Smith, Justin Parton and Deputy Chief Peder Humlen-Ahearn are all of whom tended to him that night.

"It's a feeling that you will always be in debt to a team of people that this is their job. They do it every day," said Savage.

For the paramedics who saved Savage's life, this is a gesture they do not often see. Most of the time, they never hear the outcome. So, meeting Savage was a chance to connect some dots for them, as well.

"We thought there was a chance he wouldn't make it," said Robert Vander Stelt, Lieutenant Paramedic for Ada County and one of the First Responders that night. "It's one of those calls that sticks out for you because of the severity."

Savage says there is no doubt he could have lost his life that night — if not for the help of paramedics. For him, a thank you could never be enough.

"I don't know of any other way to say thank you except for the fact that if you guys hadn't been there to help me, it would have been all over," said Savage.

Savage hopes his story is a reminder to drivers this summer to keep an eye out for motorcyclists — so they get where they need to be safely!

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