Alberta paramedic in mourning after treating critically injured teen not realizing it was her daughter
An Alberta paramedic who responded to a horrific crash where she treated a severely injured teenager, not realizing it was her own daughter, is mourning the loss of her child.
Jayme Erickson discussed the loss of her daughter Montana, who was critically injured in a Nov. 15 crash outside Airdrie, Alta.
Family friend Richie Reed, a flight paramedic himself, says Montana and a friend were returning from a dog walk at Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. RCMP confirm Montana was a passenger when the driver lost control of the vehicle on an icy stretch of road and they were struck by an oncoming truck.
Erickson arrived on scene and attended to the teenager who was then airlifted to the Foothills Medical Centre. Following her shift, RCMP visited Erickson's home to inform her that it was in fact Montana who was the victim of the crash. The teenager died in hospital.
"She meant the world to all of us," said Erickson. "This tragedy is not only felt here, in this community, but it's felt across the province and maybe the country.
"I think every first responder can relate to the pain that we're feeling. Nobody wants to go through anything like this and I just want my baby girl's memory to live on and I want everyone to know how much she meant to us and how much she means to all of my coworkers."
Undated image of Montana, the teenager who died following a crash near Airdrie, Alta. on Nov. 15. Her mother, Jayme Erickson, was the paramedic who attended the crash scene. (supplied: Erickson family)
Erickson says Montana was a firecracker who loved her friends fiercely and fought for what she believed in until her final day.
"She was so beautiful. Whenever she put effort into anything, she would always succeed at it. A very successful swimmer throughout her years. Aspirations of being a lawyer, post-high school. She was a very funny girl and we all loved her very much."
Erickson says Montana was able to give a final gift of her organs for donation, two of which were life-saving.
"We're so happy to know that our baby girl is living on through others, and she has, in the wake of this tragedy, she has saved other people. We know it's what she would have wanted and we are so proud of her."
Friends have created a GoFundMe account to help Erickson and her husband Sean cover funeral costs for Montana and to allow the family time to try to put back together their lives that have been "absolutely shattered."
"This is a loss of a daughter, but also (Jayme's) loss of an identity as a mother, and likely as a paramedic as well," said Reed. "And now she will always have us (first responders) as a family without question. So we'll always be there for her but we would appreciate some help trying to help her so that she can focus on this."
As of early Tuesday afternoon, more than $47,000 had been raised for the Erickson family.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.