Author: Leigh

In 2016, retired Marine John Cunningham walked into a rural West Virginia paramedic station as he experienced chest pains. Paramedic Kristi Hadfield loaded John into an ambulance and when his heart stopped on the way to the hospital, Kristi directed the driver to pull over immediately as she began chest compressions, restarting his heart and delivering him to the hospital where he recovered.

Kristi makes it a habit to check in on her former patients. Through a Facebook request, she connected with John and, shortly thereafter, his daughter Molly Jones: “Of course, I needed to know who saved my dad’s life,” she said.

The two women remained friends online, and when Molly posted about her Stage 4 renal failure diagnosis in 2022, Kristi came to the family’s aid a second time, messaging Molly: “I’ve got your kidney.”

Jones, whose daughter is afflicted with the same kidney-cyst disorder, is eternally grateful for Kristi:

“My daughter is my entire life, and because of Kristi, I’m going to get to see my daughter graduate, I’m going to get to see her go to college, I’m going to get to see who she grows up to be. I don’t know how you properly thank someone for that.

Nursing has been a vital part of healthcare and medicine for a few hundred years. During times of conflict, amazing and heroic acts by nurses in service are not hard to find. But today, we wish to share a story with you about one incredible nurse, Army Colonel Ruby Bradley. While working as a hospital administrator at Camp John Hay in the Philippines, Bradley was captured by the Japanese Army just three weeks following the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. She found herself detained along with other prisoners of war (POWs) at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila.

Once detained, Bradley sprang into action, providing immediate medical care to fellow prisoners and secretly distributing food to those in need, often sacrificing her own meals to ensure the wellbeing of others. Her weight dropped significantly, enabling her to sneak outdated medical tools and supplies into the camp by concealing them beneath her clothing without detection. Over her 37-month imprisonment, Bradley performed 230 significant surgeries and helped bring 13 infants into the world.

When liberation came in February 1945, Bradley’s weight had plummeted to just 84 pounds, a testament to her selflessness, as she had allocated most of her food portions to the camp’s children. Her peers dubbed Bradley and her fellow nurses as “Angels in Fatigues” for their compassionate service.

Following WWII, Bradley pursued her Army career further, achieving a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California merely four years post-war. She later participated in the Korean War and was promoted to the rank of colonel, leading up to her retirement in 1963. Over her distinguished career, she was honored with 34 awards, decorations, and medals, among them the Bronze Star Medal.

Matthew Axelson grew up in Cupertino, California where he would go on to graduate from CSU-Chico and meet his future wife, Cindy Oji Axelson. In late 2000 he joined the US Navy. He spent time in Hawaii training and after BUDs he and Cindy married.

In 2005, Matt deployed to Afghanistan as part of a four-man SEAL reconnaissance team tasked with tracking a high-ranking terrorist leader when they were ambushed by Taliban forces.

During Operation Red Wings, he was killed and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions.

Over the years, Matt’s family has been supported by many wonderful people. So in 2012, they founded the Matthew Axelson Foundation to give back to the community through sponsored golf tournaments.

As part of the golf tournament experience, a Special Forces Operator joins your foursome creating an unforgettable experience.

Funds raised go to supporting his brothers in arms after service and the children of heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.

On Your 6 honors the legacy of Matthew “Axe” Axelson, a courageous Navy SEAL who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

When pizza delivery driver Nick Bostic was driving through Lafayette (a suburb of Indianapolis) one night, he noticed a house engulfed in flames with no emergency vehicles. He ran into the house and encountered 18-year-old Seionna, who was babysitting her three siblings, aged 1, 6, and 13, along with a 13-year-old friend.

Seionna had gathered all the children but was still frantically searching for 6-year-old Kaylani. Bostic helped usher them outside to safety before reentering the burning house.

Despite the thick smoke, he was able to locate Kaylani and punched out a 2nd-floor window before jumping out with her in his arms.

Bostic explained that he’s not a hero and just did what he would have wanted someone to do for him and his family if their home was on fire.

During Labor Day weekend in 2020, the Creek Fire engulfed the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Fresno and Madera counties, threatening nearly 400 residents with massive flames. In response, an emergency evacuation was initiated, prompting the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade of the California National Guard to spring into action.

They deployed two aircrews, one aboard a UH-60M Blackhawk and the other in a CH-47F Chinook, targeting the Mammoth Pool Reservoir for a critical rescue mission.

The operation faced apocalyptic conditions, with fire encircling nearly 200 people in desperate need of evacuation. The Chinook, typically designed to carry around 30, astonishingly evacuated 65 individuals on its first trip, 102 on the second, and 37 on the third, totaling 242 rescues from Mammoth Pools. A subsequent mission two days later rescued another 175 people.

This display of heroism, with soldiers swooping in under dire circumstances, undoubtedly branded these aviators as sky-borne saviors in the eyes of those they rescued.

For Brian Geer, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community police officer and Emergency Management Coordinator, decisive action comes naturally.

On Jan. 30, Geer was the first to arrive at the scene of a capsized kayak in Skagit Bay. Commandeering another kayak, Geer attached a rope to the overturned vessel and towed the victim through a strong current back to shore.

A mere 12 hours earlier, Officer Geer was on his way home when he noticed a vehicle driving erratically. Upon pulling the vehicle over, he was met with a woman in the throes of labor. Brian took action, helping deliver the baby on the side of the road.

We raise a glass to Brian, because OY6 serves those who serve.

Jane Addams, revered as the ‘Mother of Social Work,’ dedicated her life to uplifting the marginalized and empowering communities.

In 1919, she founded the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and worked for many years to get the great powers to disarm and conclude peace agreements. She helped provide medical treatment to low-income families, education for children and adults, and facilitated social services and cultural events for the largely immigrant population of the neighborhood.

We raise a glass to Jane for her extraordinary actions, which enabled her to become the second woman in history to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

As an emergency physician at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, Dr Rob. Gore sought to do more to help heal the victims of violence he treated on a routine basis. “Seeing a lot of the traumas that take place at work or in the neighborhood, you realize, I don’t want this to happen anymore. What do we do about it?”

In 2009, he started a nonprofit called the Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI) that has funded anti-violence programs in the hospital, schools, and broader community, serving over 250 young people to date. KAVI holds weekly workshops for students in three schools, teaching mediation and conflict resolution. The group also provides free mental health counseling for students who need one-on-one support. School administrators say the program has helped lower violence, raise grades, and help send graduates to college.

Here’s to all the doctors who go beyond caring for their patients – they are also healing communities.

In a world of countless medical professionals who have ‘our six,’ we’d like to give a toast to Daniel Ivankovich, the compassionate force behind the OnePatient Global Health Initiative. As medical director and co-founder, Daniel’s mission is clear: to provide medical care to Chicago’s impoverished and unemployed population, regardless of their ability to pay.

The initiative has helped over 62,000 people in Chicago by providing over $1.3 million in musculoskeletal health services without cost.

When Daniel’s not saving lives, he is also known as “Chicago Slim,” a talented blues player who brings joy to fans with his soulful tunes.

Here’s to Daniel and his team for providing care and spreading joy to those who need it most.

In honor of the Veterans of the Vietnam War, we’d like to pay special homage to Major Bruce Crandall who performed legendary actions of bravery during the infamous battle in the Ia Drang Valley. On November 14, 1965, as his helicopter landed with seven others to discharge troops into battle, the enemy volley was so intense that the U.S. ground commander ordered the second flight of aircraft to abort their mission.

Despite this, Major Crandall commenced to fly to and from the battle multiple times to bring ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers. By the end of the first day, he flew 22 flights providing life-saving equipment and boosting the morale of the troops in battle.

Major Crandall’s story would be retold hundreds of times and made famous in the motion picture, “We Were Soldiers.” Join us in raising a glass to all the Vietnam Veterans who displayed heroic actions throughout the war.