Firefighters come to aid of family in need

SPRINGFIELD » Firefighters sign up to help others, and sometimes that help continues after they clear the scene of an incident because “that’s what it’s about.”

Springfield firefighters responded to about a dozen vehicle accidents last week, and one stuck out to the members. When the crew returned to the station from a two-vehicle accident with injuries, many of them said to each other that they wished they could help out the family involved because of their situation.

The Blackburn family just left from the Philadelphia airport to shop for necessities during their stay at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House when they became involved in an accident on Sproul Road in Springfield. Their 2-yearold daughter, Aria, was set to receive treatment for her retinoblastoma, eye cancer, at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Springfield firefighter Dan Traband Jr. talked with his fellow firefighters about what the family said and he later talked to his girlfriend about wanting to help them as an individual. He wanted to send a gift card to the family at their North Carolina home, and when he asked firefighter Bob Bansept about that, he offered to match it. Bansept also assisted at the scene and had mentioned that he wish he could do something for the family, which Traband understood.

“Just when you think you have a bad day, you come across a story like this, and your bad day is no longer a bad day. Others are having a worse day,” Traband said. “Fifteen years in the fire service and you never really have that one story that pulls your heart out of chest, and then you come across this.”

Trabrand discussed it with his supervisor, firefighter Michael Norman Jr., who also wanted to help. Norman said the family didn’t have anyone local to call for help when they became stranded after the accident in an unfamiliar area as they were caring for their daughter.

“Being a dad of two at home, it really hits you,” Norman said. “These people really need help, more help than most people need.”

Their thoughtfulness to help the Blackburn family had spread through the firehouse. They had a $750 gift card that they planned to give the family, and more career and volunteer firefighters gave them more money for the family. In 36 hours, they had raised a total of $1,750.

“As we were pulling out of the parking lot (to go to the Ronald McDonald House), people were still putting money in the envelope,” Norman said. “That’s what this is all about, it’s helping others.”

Four of the six firefighters who assisted at the accident visited the Blackburns on Thursday. Traband coordinated with Ronald McDonald House representatives, who posted a video on social media of the firefighters interacting with the Blackburns and surprising them with such a gift.

“Everybody that has watched the video today here hasn’t had a dry eye,” Norman said on Friday during an interview firehouse.

Norman said that Christa Blackburn, Aria’s mom, hugged them and thanked them for what they did.

“They were extremely grateful to have us there,” Norman said.

Christa Blackburn informed them that Aria is now cancer-free after a two-year treatment that included 18 trips to CHOP. It’s possible that if Aria had been treated back home, she may have become blind. They made plans to visit the firefighters at the firehouse when they return to CHOP in about five months. in the