Within the first couple hours of their shift on Dec. 6, 2009, Prince George’s County firefighters and paramedics from the Silver Hill Fire/EMS Station #829 handled a call that will remain with them forever.
Personnel said it was the worst injury they have ever seen and probably ever will see. They think of that day often. Some members of the crew were so traumatized that they were ordered off-duty and sent home to be with their families.
They treated an adult female, in her 20’s, who had been the victim of an assault and presented the most horrific injuries that anyone had ever seen or dealt with.
The victim had been kidnapped and crudely sliced and cut in an attempt to steal her unborn baby.
When the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department responded to a 911 call at a Suitland apartment complex, they found Teka Adams in the street.
"It's something that I'd never seen before," stated Fire Fighter/Medic Brandon Wood.
"This was two human lives that were in need of desperate help," Fire Lieutenant Ralph Welch said.
The suspect in this case, Veronica Deramous, is accused of tying Adams up, gagging her, beating her and using several knives to try to cut the baby out over a period of four days. Adams said that Deramous had tried to steal her unborn child.
"The pain was so excruciating that it got to a point where I just couldn't even feel it anymore," Adams said.
Adams eventually escaped from the apartment, ran into the courtyard where members of the community saw her and called 911.
Her baby, Miracle Sky, was delivered by Cesarean section and is doing well.
On Wednesday, the life-saving crew met and held Miracle and chatted with her mother.
The crew exchanged their recollections of events that day and Adams recalled several of the faces of the medics. The baby was held by each member of the crew.
They said it provided them a rewarding feeling that they did their jobs to the best of their abilities and training. The fire fighter/medics who saved Adams and her daughter brought them a special gift -- a Saint Florian medal. Saint Florian's the patron saint of firefighters.
In addition to Fire Lieutenant Welch and Fire Fighter/Medic Brandon Wood, other crew members included Fire Fighter/Medic Renee Wood, Fire Fighter/Medic Jarren Hall, Fire Fighter/Medic Robert Woody and Fire Fighter/Medic Antwan Holbert.
“This is another example of our firefighters and paramedics providing the best possible services to our citizens and residents despite the difficulties they are challenged with,” stated Fire Chief Eugene A. Jones.
“There is no greater reward in this profession then to meet a victim that you helped to save, in this case, the reward was doubled. I am proud of our personnel and I wish Teka and Miracle the very best.”
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Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS
