A West Hartford family showed its appreciation for first responders by donating two McJon Kevlar extrication blankets to the West Hartford Fire Department.
The donation of the blankets, which is an upgrade in technology over what the department currently has, is a product of the close relationship Holly and Tom Killeen’s 3-year-old son, Nolan Killeen, has made with local firefighters.
The Killeens appreciation for first responders spawns from the loss of Holly’s brother, Pete Fortier, who died after being struck by a car in 2013 while living in Fort Myers, Florida.
Nolan has been a regular visitor to West Hartford’s five fire stations. He has nicknames for several members of the department, has his own firefighting gear emblazoned with his name, and is able to identify what equipment on the fire truck is used during an emergency.
On the morning of March 5, Nolan—clad in his gear — walked into fire station two with his parents to meet with the fire department he’s grown accustomed to, so the family could donate two McJon Kevlar extrication blankets to the department. If they like them, the Killeens are pledging to donate three more, covering all five stations in town.
Holly Killeen views the relationship her son has with the West Hartford Fire Department to be a formative part of his early life. While still just 3, Nolan has grown up visiting the department’s various stations. It’s become a normal part of his life.
“Part of the warmth of this story is that West Hartford has this sense of being welcoming in their stations and their houses," Killeen said. "They have shown leadership and generosity. It’s like a neighborhood firehouse.”
When Nolan was going through potty training, the fire department was there for him. When he was having trouble adjusting to preschool, the fire department was again there for him. And Nolan, who is living with reactive airway disease, would often receive encouragement from department members.
“When we started preschool he had a difficult transition," Killeen said. “He was used to having a stay-at-home mom. I would stop in and they would make a video, saying ‘Keep up the good work’ so he would have a video from a firefighter at the end of the day. They told him to be brave and to be strong. They would tell him great job; keep doing your treatments.”
Killeen said the interactions remind her more of an old-fashioned neighborhood department more than anything else, and she’s grateful for the attention the department has shown her and her son during their visits, which have included playing basketball.
“The main focus is how they have a sense of community and how they’ve helped Nolan through a lot," Killeen said. "Nolan has grown up with them and they’ve had such an impact on him. This is his connection. He counts them in his blessings at night. They’ve done it all on their own. They take the time to get to know him, which is pretty cool.”
While donating the blankets, Nolan took the opportunity to dish out plenty of high-fives to department members, as well as check out fire trucks. The smile he entered the room with never left his face.
“First responders are incredibly important to our family,” Killeen said before presenting the blankets. “Every one we’ve met has touched Nolan’s heart. It puts a smile on his face. You all mean a lot to us.”
Mayor Shari Cantor attended the donation of the blankets, and said she often hears stories from West Hartford residents reacting to interactions with first responders. She thanked the Killeen family for its generosity.
“It’s amazing when a family is moved by the work you do,” Cantor said. “I hear those stories and I share those stories. For a family to step forward and say they know the great work you do and say that you are a hero for Nolan... I just want to thank you for what you do.”
Gregory Priest, the town’s fire chief, said in a statement that the blankets will be an asset to the department.
“I’m humbled that the Killeen family desired to recognize our first responders by trying to get the best equipment into our hands,” Priest said. “Patients requiring extrication are likely to be both frightened and injured while experiencing loud and austere conditions. West Hartford fire will be able to provide for the highest level of protection and comfort to victims during extrications."
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