On the evening of July 5, a routine call to Charlotte Fire Engine 10 morphed into a harrowing rescue, as reported by the city's news website. Capt. John Booth and his team—including Engineer Kevin Stines, Firefighter II and Lead EMT Austen King, and Firefighter I Mauro Samayoa-LaForgia—responded to a hemorrhage incident that proved to be a critical emergency for a new mother, Julie Brauer. Within moments, a standard response escalated into an urgent effort to save her life.
Despite the benign nature of the initial call, the scene that welcomed the firefighters at Brauer's home was far from ordinary. "When I got to the top of the steps, I noticed a lot of blood on the floor leading to the bathroom," Capt. Booth told the City of Charlotte's news website, indicating the gravity of the situation. The crew found Brauer, who had given birth just two weeks prior, in dire condition. The new mother was slipping in and out of consciousness and quickly losing blood.
As the situation unfolded, the crew's expertise came to the fore. King, focusing on stabilizing Brauer, applied direct pressure to the wound while maintaining a calm demeanor – a contrast to the panic that Brauer's husband, who held their newborn son, felt prior to their arrival. Brauer, herself a healthcare worker, recognized King's efforts as life-saving, highlighting the importance of a calm presence in such dire circumstances. She recounted feeling an "overwhelming sense that someone was there to take care of me" just before losing consciousness, detailed by the City of Charlotte.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Booth and his team utilized a "mega mover" to expedite Brauer's transport to the hospital. This device, which assists in moving patients quickly from confined spaces, demonstrated the crew's efficiency and possibly made the difference between life and death for Julie. Working in concert with the Medic team, the firefighters were able to transport Brauer to safety rapidly, which left her husband Nick Webster in awe at their professionalism.
Following the traumatic event, Brauer and her husband visited Firehouse 10 to express their gratitude to the crew involved in her rescue. Her recovery allowed her the chance to hold her baby boy every day—a result that Chief Reginald Johnson of the Charlotte Fire Department attributed to the professionalism, skill, and compassion of the responders.
