WOODSTOCK — Lori Lindsey may have a long road to recovery ahead, but her visit to Station 14 in Woodstock on Monday provided a rare moment for four paramedics to see

that their efforts do not go

unappreciated.

Most Cherokee County firefighters and Canton residents remember May 25 as the day a major fire broke out in the Canterbury Ridge Apartments, gutting one of the buildings and leaving 60 residents without a home.

But as firefighters were working to contain the fire, another emergency took place on the southbound lane of Interstate 575 just south of Highway 92.

Lindsey of Acworth was heading home from work around 5 p.m. when a red Ford truck cut in front of her vehicle, causing her to swerve. Her 2001 Mercury Mountaineer flipped about five to seven times before

stopping.

Lindsey said she remembered the sound of the vehicle crumbling and crunching as she begged her car to “please stop.”

Four paramedics with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services responded to the scene. They were Sgt. Nathan Baum, Sgt. Jason Williams, Benjamin Kiefer and Jeremy Pannell.

“When we arrived on scene, we could see Lori’s left foot sticking out the driver’s side window and her right foot had gone through the front windshield,” said Baum, a Cherokee County firefighter and

emergency medical technician.

Lindsey suffered a broken collarbone, a broken humerus in her left arm causing a stretched radial nerve, and a broken tibia and fibula in her left leg. Her right foot was severely damaged, too, after going through the windshield.

However, Baum said Lindsey was a “great patient” who never lost consciousness. After looking at her injuries, Williams said he was surprised she wasn’t screaming.

The paramedics called a life flight helicopter to the scene, but later cancelled the call.

“We felt that we could get her to the hospital just as quick,” Baum said.

James Lindsey, Lori Lindsey’s husband, arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and said he “totally lost it” after seeing his wife’s foot through the windshield.

Lindsey spent 19 days in WellStar Kennestone Hospital recovering from the accident, and was finally able to go thank the emergency personnel for their rescue efforts on Monday, almost exactly a month to the date of her accident.

She thanked the four men, but went on to say that her appreciation was just not enough.

“You guys are wonderful,” she said.

James Lindsey said many people have been praying for his wife since the

accident.

“Her attitude has been great and our church, Heritage Presbyterian, has been wonderful,” Lindsey said. “They brought us meals and built a 55-foot ramp for Lori.”

Tim Cavender, spokesman for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, said it was an important day for the emergency service personnel who responded to the accident that day.

“For the most part, these experienced men never have a chance to meet with the patients that they serve after they are left at the hospital,” Cavender said. “To experience a few moments with one of their patients to see that they survived a tragic accident is truly what keeps these dedicated men motivated.”

Cavender, who was at the station when Lindsey visited, said she is doing extremely well.

“She has some scars and she’s not able to walk right now, but she’s going through therapy to get back to where she was,” he said.