Beyond the Call: From Rescue to Lasting Bond
The crack of the bat echoed through the stadium as the annual baseball game between the New York Police Department and the New York Fire Department got underway at Citi Field. For most, it was just another friendly match, but for my 13-year-old Gavin, it was a night that would forever be etched in his memory.
Gavin sat in the stands, his eyes fixed on the firefighters taking the field. His gaze lingered on one player in particular: Joshua Burgos, the head coach of the FDNY team. Unbeknownst to the cheering crowd, Gavin and Joshua shared a bond.
Eight years ago, plagued by severe seizures, it was Coach Joshua Burgos and his team of firefighters from Ladder 13 in the Upper East Side of Manhattan who arrived just in time to help Gavin stabilize and let him know that all would be ok.
Gavin's fascination with firefighters grew from that seizure and watching the well-orchestrated response of the FDNY. He began visiting local firehouses, collecting patches, and expanding his knowledge and interest in firefighter culture and events.
Several years after the seizure, during one of these visits, fate intervened, and Gavin came face to face with Joshua. At that moment, the connection clicked. Somehow, Gavin shared the rescue story, and Joshua told him he was there!
Years later, Gavin watched his hero from the crowd at Citi Field for the 3rd annual NYPD VS. NYFD Charitable Baseball game, his heart swelling with gratitude. When I (Gavin’s Dad) stepped away to grab a beer and some chicken fingers, Gavin started conversing with the couple next to him, eager to share his story.
"Joshua, the head coach of the FDNY team, saved my life," he told them, his voice filled with pride. "He's the reason I'm here today."
The man beside him, named Jimmy, listened intently, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. As Gavin finished his tale, the stranger leaned in close.
"Gavin," he said softly, "I'm Joshua's brother."
Gavin’s jaw dropped in disbelief. Within minutes, Jimmy offered him an autographed baseball – saying, “I will always be there for you,” a treasured memento of this serendipitous encounter.
As the final inning ended, with the FDNY clinching victory, Jimmy invited Gavin and me down to the dugout. There, they were presented with a hat bearing the signatures of every FDNY player. Tears welled in Gavin's eyes as Joshua emerged from the dugout, wrapping my son in a warm embrace.
The connection between Gavin and Joshua had blossomed into something beautiful – a testament to the enduring impact of a single act of heroism.
That night, we met Joshua’s family and experienced love, loyalty, kindness, and compassion. His mother even blessed Gavin.
As they left the stadium that night, Gavin clutched his new treasures – the baseball and the signed hat – close to his chest. But the real treasure was the knowledge that sometimes, heroes don't just save lives; they become a part of them.
As they parted ways, Joshua's sister, Yolanda, gave me her number, and the next day, she shared an idea. She started off the message by saying,
“ I believe Our brother Jimmy was meant to find you both yesterday. Your son touched his heart and mine as well. And now we are Friends for life!”
She went on to say that Joshua often gives fire safety talks at schools.
My eyes lit up at the suggestion. It was the perfect way to honor Gavin's journey, share an important message with his classmates, and allow Gavin to embrace some of the leadership qualities that have been budding inside him. We are working to coordinate a date for Joshua to come to Gavin’s school soon.
What had begun as a tragedy averted had transformed into a story of hope, connection, and community. For Gavin, Joshua was no longer just a firefighter who had saved his life. He is now a mentor, friend, and a living reminder that heroes are ready to light the way even in our darkest moments.
Ultimately, this isn’t just a story about a boy and a firefighter. It was a testament to the power of human connection, the ripple effect of kindness, and the extraordinary impact that ordinary people can have when they choose to serve others.