'He's a good kid'

Fire and rescue trucks from about 15 local departments lined the road in Perkinsville on Thursday evening, Aug. 18 with flashing lights and a salute as 21-year-old firefighter Levi Parker headed to Boston with his family for a bone marrow transplant.

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2016-08-20 / Front Page 'He's a good kid' Fire departments gather to send off firefighter for medical treatment By Tory Jones Bonenfant toryb@eagletimes.com Firefighters from New Hampshire and Vermont lined the road with lights flashing to salute West Weathersfield firefighter Levi Parker, 21, as he headed to Boston on Thursday, Aug. 18 for a bone marrow transplant. — TORY JONES BONENFANT Firefighters from New Hampshire and Vermont lined the road with lights flashing to salute West Weathersfield firefighter Levi Parker, 21, as he headed to Boston on Thursday, Aug. 18 for a bone marrow transplant. — TORY JONES BONENFANT WEST WEATHERSFIELD — Fire and rescue trucks from about 15 local departments lined the road in Perkinsville on Thursday evening, Aug. 18 with flashing lights and a salute as 21-year-old firefighter Levi Parker headed to Boston with his family for a bone marrow transplant. His mother, father, and sister knew of the fire department’s plans to gather and salute as they drove by, but it was a surprise for Parker. “I just wanted him to know there’s a lot of people rooting for him, even some who have never met him,” said Tracy Dauphin, who organized the event with the help of her husband, West Weathersfield Fire Department (WWFD) Chief Josh Dauphin and other members of the department. Parker, who lives in Springfield, traveled through Perkinsville with his parents, West and Randy Parker and his sister, Paige, on Thursday as they drove toward the on-ramp to I-91, heading to Boston for a transplant scheduled for Thursday. A Weathersfield Police Department cruiser led them into town, where ladder trucks had set up a salute over the roadway. More trucks from fire departments in New Hampshire and Vermont lined the road at the corner at the intersection of Routes 106 and 131, and at the WWFD garage, where firefighters from his own department were waiting to salute him. His father stopped the truck, and Parker stepped out briefly to share tearful hugs with his fellow firefighters. When the family left again, they were escorted to the highway by the police cruiser and two firetrucks. A woman from Germany was just confirmed about two days ago as a match to donate bone marrow to Parker, who was diagnosed about a month and a half ago with acute anemia, according to Tracy Dauphin. An earlier donor who had been considered a match for Parker was unable to donate following a medical exam, Dauphin said. The family will need to stay in Boston for 4-6 weeks while he undergoes a few days of chemotherapy, followed by a transplant later next week, she said. West Weathersfield firefighters hug their teammate Levi Parker, 21, on Thursday, Aug. 18. They gathered to send him off with flashing lights and salutes as he headed to Boston for a bone marrow transplant. — TORY JONES BONENFANT West Weathersfield firefighters hug their teammate Levi Parker, 21, on Thursday, Aug. 18. They gathered to send him off with flashing lights and salutes as he headed to Boston for a bone marrow transplant. — TORY JONES BONENFANT “I would go in anytime with that kid, that’s how special he is,” said Gary Vittum, a firefighter with the Reading Volunteer Fire Department. Vittum, who taught Parker in a Fire I class, said he was a “quiet kid” at first, but quickly opened up and became one of the top three in more than 150 students he had taught. A full rainbow also appeared over the lined-up firetrucks about one minute before the Parker family arrived for the sendoff. Groups of local residents also came out to wave goodbye as the family headed up toward the interstate. Parker has served on the WWFD for two years, and was “very active,” Dauphin said. Fellow firefighter NaToshya Spaulding described Parker as “very funny, outgoing, a jokester .. He’s a good kid,” she said. “He would do anything to help anyone else.” The fire department is organizing fundraisers to help the family with medical and travel expenses. Those who would like to purchase a bracelet for $5 can contact Spaulding at (603) 322-3287. Since his diagnosis, the department has sold about 600 bracelets to help the family, she said. A spaghetti dinner is scheduled for 5 p.m. until sold out, on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the West Weathersfield Fire Station. Admission will be donations at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Parker family’s medical and travel expenses.