BROWARD COUNTY, FLA. -- Flags in this Florida community are at half mast, and firefighters' badges have black bands in honor of a colleague who died Friday while recuperating from a heart procedure.
Michael Douthitt, 48, a veteran firefighter with Broward Sheriff's Office Department of Fire/Rescue, first started feeling bad after overhaul operations at a mobile home fire on July 2.
Believing he had the flu, he went home after his shift and spent the entire day in bed. "I knew he had to be feeling bad. He never does that," said his wife, Ruth, a retired firefighter/paramedic.
All though he still wasn't quite up to par, he reported for duty on July 4. "He took it easy, but still had no appetite."
The following evening he felt his pulse was irregular, and asked his wife to check it. She hooked him up to a portable EKG she uses on her job.
"He was in first-degree heart block. I told him he was having a heart attack."
A cardiologist concurred what the monitor had shown. His right coronary artery was 99 percent blocked. He needed a stent.
He was told that the heart had sustained minimal damage. "The doctor said by all accounts he should not have made it to the hospital. He was very lucky not to have died on the street."
After two days in the cardiac care unit, he went home. Through the week, he rested, watched his diet and spoke with friends from around the country who'd learned about what happened.
As he sat eating lunch with his wife on Friday, he went into cardiac arrest. His wife initiated CPR, and called 9-1-1. The effort was continued en route to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Douthitt was 18 months away from being eligible to retire. His wife retired after 20 years with the City of Delray.
In addition to his family and firefighting, Douthitt was devoted to Florida sports teams.
"A fan? No, I'd say addict," said Battalion Chief Tory Fatjo, a longtime friend and co-worker. "He loved the Dolphins, Marlins, Hurricanes, Panthers. He went to every Dolphins' home game, and at least one or two away games every season."
Fatjo said Douthitt was well-loved, and touched many lives.
Douthitt began his career with then Broward County EMS in 1984 as a paramedic. He later served as acting battalion chief, supervising paramedic crews throughout the county. In the 1990s, Broward County EMS merged with Broward County Fire, and in 2003, merged with BSO. That same year, Douthitt was promoted from firefighter/paramedic to driver/engineer, according to a department release.
He received numerous letters commending his service from residents and visitors to Broward County. One in particular, in 1986, was when Douthitt was working on a medic unit assigned in Coral Springs. The letter was from a woman whose father was a doctor who suffered a cardiac arrest on Florida Turnpike. A call for help went out over a CB radio and in turn, Douthitt and his partner successfully resuscitated the physician.
He was treasurer of Dolphins' Booster Club for many years, and got to know many players. "He always said he would bleed aqua and orange," his friend said.
His devotion to his beloved Dolphins will be evident at his viewing and funeral service. His teenage children chose aqua and orange flowers. For the visitation his son will be wearing a Marlins' jersey, and his wife, a Dolphins'. Flags from the various Florida teams also will be on display.
His wife added: "At the end of the (funeral) service, I'm going to get up and ask that people join in singing the Dolphins' fight song. And, then maybe they'll do the wave. Mike would love it."
Funeral Arrangements
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Forrest Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 200 West Copans Road, Pompano Beach.
The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 18 at the First Baptist Church, 301 E. Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale.
Donations may be made to any animal welfare organization.
For further information about bringing personnel or apparatus contact Battalion Chief Kenneth Kronheim 954-818-6039; Capt. David Erdman at 954-818-6055 or Capt. Jerry Kuczynski at 561-436-1547 for honor guard assignments.
