Five-year-old boy forges connection with local first responder
From left to right: Grant County Fire District 4 Interim Chief Travis Svilar, holds Preston Thomas while posing for a photo with Preston’s mom Traci and his two older brothers. Traci said Svilar has gone to great lengths to ensure Preston and the family are supported as they manage Preston’s health issues.
COURTESY JBR PHOTOGRAPHY
Travis Svilar and Preston Thomas take a stroll around the fire station during a Friday afternoon visit to the fire station.
After a recent promotion, GCFD 5 Battalion Commander Travis Svilar passed his captain’s hat down to Preston Thomas Friday. He said he passed the helmet on to Preston because the young man is why EMTs and firefighters do what they do.
Preston Thomas offers a balloon to his hero, GCFD 4 Interim Chief Travis Svilar, who Preston’s mom credits with greatly contributing to Preston’s quality of life.
MOSES LAKE – Five-year-old Preston Thomas has had more challenges than the average young man his age. He was born prematurely due to a car accident when his mother was just 25 weeks pregnant.
Preston was born weighing one pound and 11 inches long.
“He spent the first almost year of his life in the hospital. He’s had over 100 surgeries and 22 cardiac arrests which ultimately has him on life support for likely the remainder of his life,” said his mother, Traci Thomas. “We consider every day with him a blessing.”
The family moved back to the Moses Lake area shortly before Preston’s second birthday to be closer to family and their support.
Preston's life support and various health issues can often lead to medical emergencies, resulting in the family calling for EMS support. On one such occasion, Travis Svilar, interim chief for Grant County Fire District 4 and a battalion chief at Grant County Fire District 5, was one of the first responders that came to Preston’s aid, she said.
Preston was having a cardiac arrest at home, prompting the call for aid. First responder Vanessa Razo was the first to arrive and started working to help Preston. Svilar came in and helped reassure Traci and her older children that Preston would be ok.
While the entire department has been amazing, Traci said, Svilar has also stopped by while off duty to check on Preston and make sure he is doing well and ready for another day of pushing forward with life despite his health challenges.
“The entire department has been incredible and I’m so thankful for each of them,” she said.
Friday evening, the family decided to stop by the station where Svilar works to offer their appreciation. The family brought various tokens of appreciation and made sure everyone was given kudos for their help, including Svilar.
“While we were there, (Svilar) passed on his former captain helmet to Preston as he was promoted to (interim GCFD 4 chief). During that time, he stated in 31 years at the department he has never done the tradition of passing on a helmet but wanted Preston to have one as he is a big part of why (Svilar) does what he does each day,” Preston’s mom said.
Because of the work Svilar and his team do, Traci said her son has a chance to have a lot more days with his family.
“I will never be able to thank them for saving my baby and I continually pray for more days with him. Life support doesn’t stop Preston as he has so much to live for,” Traci said.
Traci said she also wanted to express her thanks to JBR Photography for volunteering to come take photos of Preston and Svilar having some time together.
Travis Svilar and Preston Thomas take a stroll around the fire station during a Friday afternoon visit to the fire station.
After a recent promotion, GCFD 5 Battalion Commander Travis Svilar passed his captain’s hat down to Preston Thomas Friday. He said he passed the helmet on to Preston because the young man is why EMTs and firefighters do what they do.
Preston Thomas offers a balloon to his hero, GCFD 4 Interim Chief Travis Svilar, who Preston’s mom credits with greatly contributing to Preston’s quality of life.