True Story of Heroism in San Mateo that reads like an Indiana Jones movie

At around 7:30 pm on December 31, 2013 Marlon Gonzalez was hungry.  Since he lives in San Mateo and therefore has no electricity, the 35 year old was using his flashlight when he was searching his kitchen for food.  He had that flashlight in his hand when he heard screaming coming from the other side of the lagoon.  Marlon jumped in the water and crossed the 20 feet of water.  Crocodiles are frequently seen in this section of the lagoon.

When he reached the house, he found a mother and children screaming, and another child blue in the face and non-responsive on the floor of the dark, unlit house.  The mother frantically explained that her daughter, 10 year old Myrna, was choking on a marble.

On November 6 and 7, 2013  Marlon was sponsored by Victoria House, his employer of 12 years with perfect attendance, had taken and completed Red Cross First Aid and CPR Training with Bandage International.  With the course just 7 weeks before, his response was sharp.  He put the flashlight in his mouth and began to pound on her back as he’d been taught.  She remained unresponsive, so he laid her on her back and immediately commenced CPR.  He remembered the most important lesson we’d been taught in that class – just keep pumping.

Marlon tried to dislodge the marble, but nothing worked.  The girls color, however, was getting better.  He could feel her lungs moving, so he knew it was working.  He had her older brother get the dory to take her to the road.  A dory is a small canoe, of sorts, paddled by hand.  The boy paddled while Marlon continued CPR – all the while with a flashlight in his mouth.  The boat ride took about 5 – 10 minutes.  That’s a very long time to be doing CPR after swimming across crocodile infested waters.

The brother, Marlon and Myrna reached the north side of the bridge.  Marlon carried the 10 year old over his shoulder up and over the bridge, where the got into Chi’s taxi. Marlon continued CPR in the Taxi as they drove to Dr Daniel’s office.  By the time they reached, Myrna became responsive and could stand to walk into the office.  Dr Daniel pronounced that Myrna had swallowed the marble and would pass it naturally, and then charged him $10 usd for the office visit and sent them on their way.

A few weeks ago,Marlon had told me the highlights of this story when he gave me a ride home from town, and I then told Tacogirl.com who had sponsored me for the same class.  She then arranged to have representatives from the San Pedro Red Cross and Myrna and her family meet with members of the Press to tell his story.  Before they arrived, I sat down and asked Marlon some more personal questions about how it felt to save someone and if it changed him at all.  We also talked about how the family must be so appreciative of him.  He told me that the father of the girl had bought him “4 Stouts” in appreciation, a day’s wages for the man, and the mother cries when she thanks him.

The family arrived for what I’m sure was their first time at such a fancy place as Victoria House. Clearly there is a deep affection between Marlon and the family.  The father didn’t speak a lot of English, but love and pride transcend language and he spoke volumes.  Myrna, Emily and Wilson were lovely, lovely children.  Myrna was shy, Emily was spirited, and Wilson was “my little monkey”.  The kids got to play on the hammocks and the girls got “Shirley Temples” to drink.

I asked Myrna what she wanted to be when she grew up.  I had to lean in and talk quietly to her, and she spoke so softly it was hard to hear.  But she was clear nonetheless – “nurse”, is what she said.  I said “So you can save lives when you grow up, too.”

I really do have the amazing fortune to be around some of the most remarkable people.  This is a true story of heroism in San Mateo that reads like an Indiana Jones movie.

The orchid laden trees and manicured lawns of Victoria House’s front drive.

Marlon tells the story

me and marlon

The family arrives at Victoria House

The family sees the beach

the view

Sitting together to be interviewed

Janelle from the San Pedro Sun gets the story

Shirlee presents a gift from the San Pedro Red Cross

A present for the survivor, Myrna

She stands like a little model, but she really didn’t like getting her picture taken

Emily 🙂

Wilson

The eldest boy, Dixon, the one who paddled the dory and helped save Myrna couldn’t attend the party as he was in school.  He also received a TShirt from the Red Cross.