Harvey heroes Kevin Mikulan and Dr. Stephen Kimmel were reunited on Tuesday for the first time since the devastating hurricane nearly prevented the doctor from reaching a hospital to perform an emergency surgery.
If it were not for Mikulan, a volunteer rescuer who risked his life to get Kimmel to the Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, a teenage boy who had testicular torsion would have had lifelong problems, KPRC 2 reported.
The two men have not seen each other since that day, but in a moving reunion this week at the Clear Lake Regional Medical Center they reconnected to recount their harrowing experience.
It all began when Kimmel, a pediatric surgeon, received a call from the medical center for an emergency surgery.
The storm had already hit and the streets were filling with water, making it near impossible for him to travel, despite previous attempts.
“I said I can do the surgery but you have to help me get there,” Kimmel said, according to KPRC 2.
The hospital contacted the fire department, who asked Mikulan and another first responder if they could assist.
It was 2.30 a.m. when the two set off with a canoe strapped to the back of their truck, KHOU reported.
Kimmel said he thought they were just going to drive out in a truck but instead had to wade through about eight inches of water for nearly a mile before reaching the truck, which took them only part of the distance to the hospital.
They had to use the canoe to cover the remaining 11 miles.
The clock was ticking but Kimmel managed to make it to the hospital in time to perform the surgery successfully.
“The mission is the most important thing. we just had to get it done,” the doctor said, according to Fox26.
Speaking to Kimmel, hospital CEO Todd Caliva said; “A lot people don't know the story of how you left your family because you got word that a young man's life was in jeopardy,” according to KHOU.
The two men both received plaques Tuesday for their courage and selflessness.
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