It may be time to buy a lottery ticket for two residents in the region.

Randy Spekking and Superior North EMS Paramedic Paula Verin’s paths have crossed during two separate heart attacks experienced by Spekking 12 years apart.

In 2012, Spekking was transferred from Wilson Memorial General Hospital in Marathon to the local airport, to be sent to another healthcare facility.

Verin and Crystal Cook were responsible for transporting him to the airport. When the paramedics arrived in his room, Verin noticed that Spekking did not have vital signs and chest compressions were started by the two paramedics.

A physician at the hospital shocked Spekking, while the paramedics continued CPR, and he was revived, with Verin announcing to the room that he was back.

After this event, whenever the two would see each other, they would exchange pleasantries.

Fast forward to 2024 and Verin now works as a SNEMS Superintendent in another community, but was filling in at the Marathon base in early May.

During her shift, SNEMS received a call about a person who was in their backyard without a heartbeat.

Verin and partner Mitch Wiljala were sent to the scene. Upon arrival, they found an off-duty OPP officer on the scene doing chest compressions.

“The off-duty OPP officer who did CPR, he was the true hero in this,” said Superior North EMS Superintendant, Paula Verin. “when a person does CPR, they’re keeping the vital organs viable, they’re keeping oxygen circulating so that when we get there with the defibrillator, there’s still a viable heart muscle that we can shock. It is crucial.”

Paramedics were able to shock the patient twice and got a pulse back.

Paramedics Verin and Wiljala asked the patient and the family for vital information, including their names, which is when Verin realized this was the same person she administered CPR to 12 years earlier.

Spekking is doing well, after recovering from his last cardiac arrest.

He now has a pacemaker and was thrilled to see Verin on her last visit to Marathon, so he could give her another hug.

“It actually just mostly made me feel very blessed to be able to experience something like that and the joy that it gives you is incredible and it’s just unbelievable,” said Verin.  “Like, every time before, every time I saw him around town, he’d always give me a hug and it just made my day, but this one is mind-blowing.”

Over her 30+ year career Verin said she’s never heard of anything like this happening, ” Saves aren’t super common to begin with, especially out in the district, just due to call volume. So one is kind of rare out here, let alone the same person twice.”

SNEMS is reminding everyone to call 9-1-1 in the event of a medical emergency.

SNEMS has approximately 200 paramedics and 40 administrative and support staff located at 18 stations across Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay District.