Lily Dashner and people with stories of her ilk are the reason why nearly all firefighters get into the profession. It’s not for any other reason than to help people. And hearing those stories never gets old.
It all came full circle Saturday evening—18 years later—at Austin Fire Department’s Station 2. Dressed to the nines en route to prom, Dashner regaled crew members with her story of how in 2003 Captain Brandon Jennings (now at Investigations), Captain Ed Roel (now at Ladder 36/B shift), Lieutenant Mike Lemerise (now retired), and Firefighter Ed Roberts (now retired) saved her life when she was born prematurely.
Now a high school senior, she shared how, while growing up, she always wanted to see “her fire truck number 2” driving down the road.
“Many times, we never know the impact our actions may have on a family,” a Facebook post reads. “But on Saturday, we got the privilege to meet one of our greatest success stories. Thank you to Lily and her family for taking the time to share what were surely difficult memories, and for letting us meet a real-life happy ending.”