On April 7, my dear and oldest friend Rene Soulard, who was house-sitting for us, suffered a massive stroke.  It was around dinner time.

Our neighbors Don and Karen Pencil came up for a visit the next day, Friday,  April 8 around 7 p.m. and found Rene. They immediately took swift action to call 911, turn off a burner  on the stove and the faucet, and comforted Rene until the first responder, Cameron Fralick arrived eight minutes later closely followed by Ian Wareham and many other EMTs, including Chief Mik Preysz.  They stabilized Rene and made him comfortable and calmed him before for he could be flown off to St. Joe’s in Bellingham.

Sadly, my friend passed away on Monday, April 11.  It was a very massive stroke and he lay too long. We wanted to thank our wonderful Orcas Island Fire & Rescue EMTs and Chief Preysz who responded so quickly and gave Rene their all.  Thank you Cameron Fralick, Ian Wareham, Steven Bailey, Kellan Bernhardt, Bob and Maria Nutt, Perry Pruett and Chief Miklos Preysz.  Thank you also to Dr. Michael P. Sullivan who met them at the airport.  Thank you so much to our neighbors Don and Karen Pencil.   Jim and I were also especially grateful for the time Chief Preysz, Cameron and Ian gave us on April 20 at the office. They were able to supply us with more information which was extremely comforting to us and to the many other friends of Rene’s.  They were also so compassionate. We do have a wonderful team to assist us here on our island and we are extremely fortunate for their dedication and efforts.

Patty Pirnack-Hamilton

Jim Hamilton

Orcas Island