Melissa Bailey Photo
Nearly three months after they waded through waist-deep snow to help a pregnant woman rush to the hospital, firefighters got a chance to meet young Johnny Solis, the “miracle” of Blizzard Nemo.
Johnny Solis (pictured) was born on Feb. 10, the result of a dramatic rescue in the height of a historic storm that dumped 3 feet of snow across the city, paralyzing streets and stranding emergency vehicles.
Young Johnny showed up Tuesday evening looking plump and healthy, if a bit sleepy, to meet his rescue team at City Hall, where emergency responders were honored with official citations from the Board of Aldermen.
Johnny arrived in a baby carriage with his parents, Florentina Golinez and Juan Solis (pictured). The couple was stranded in their home on Blatchley Avenue during the heart of the storm. Golinez’s contractions were two minutes apart. Her first baby was on the way.
Firefighters waded through waist-deep snow to reach her, then commandeered a payloader to navigate the streets. Mom and dad made it safely to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where Johnny was born—click here to read the full story.
Aldermen honored Lt. Gary Cole, Shemica Lloyd, Jose Vargas, and Raul Ginebra of Engine 17. They also offered a citation to Joe Soucie of O&G Industries, who lent his payloader to the rescue mission.
Alderwoman Brenda Jones-Barnes thanked Cole for his “quick thinking” in making the rescue.
She proclaimed the event “a wonderful miracle.”