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December 25, 2007
SPRINGFIELD, OH - No one chooses to have a heart attack on Christmas, but if some has one, Wendi Young is glad she can be there for them.
The coronary care unit nurse at Mercy Medical Center is among hundreds of service workers who were "minding the store" Tuesday as families celebrated Christmas Day.
"When you choose this profession it's because you want to help people," said Young, a mother of four young children. "That means Christmas Day too."
At 3 a.m. Clark County Sheriff Dispatcher Denise Lanum navigated the nearly-deserted streets of Springfield to work a 14-hour Christmas shift. Four hours later Springfield firefighters filed into the city's seven fire stations and police officers and sheriff deputies took to the streets and county roads.
"I don't mind working so others can have the day off," Lanum said. "I've been a here for 22 years. You get used to working Christmas."
Firefighters work a 24-hour rotating shift, said Springfield Fire Division Captain Charlie Boggs. "If you're third day falls on Christmas Day, you work it."
Corey Miller was one of those firefighters who's third day was Christmas this year.
"We try to make the day as festive as possible," said Miller, "But we're still alert and ready."
Miller's young son was a little frustrated dad had to work Christmas Day, but Miller called to remind him that Santa got his letter and they would celebrate Dec. 26.
"He knows that Santa is making multiple trips for him," Miller said.
Young too would have rather been home with her little ones on Christmas day, but she reminded herself that her patients would rather be home also.
"I told them, 'I'm sorry you have to be here today, but while you're here, you're going to gets lots of loving,'" she said.
Whether they end up celebrating the holiday today or on the weekend, it will still feel like Christmas, Lanum said.
"All that matters is that you're with your family," she said.
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