Graham Stockwell turned four on Thursday, Oct. 22, and celebrated at Florence Fire/EMS Station #34 with the crew that helped save his life three years ago.

Graham was born four months early, weighing one pound and nine ounces. His father, Carl Stockwell, told WCPO that Graham spent a year and a day in the hospital before coming home on a ventilator with a tracheostomy.

His father, Carl Stockwell, said at the celebration that Graham had less than a 10% chance to survive. The family spent "a year and a day" in the hospital, and Graham came home the day after his first birthday, Carl Stockwell told WCPO.

After Graham left the hospital, Florence Fire/EMS personnel met with the family to learn Graham’s medical needs and emergency protocols. The visits were coordinated through Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's "Heroes Program," which connects fire departments with medically complex children in their coverage area, according to Danielle Stiner, battalion chief of EMS for Florence Fire/EMS.

That preparation was tested almost immediately. Carl Stockwell said he and his family were performing CPR on Graham when Florence firefighters arrived within two to three minutes to assist. The NKy Tribune reported the emergency involved an emergency tracheostomy change. The sources differ on timing: WCPO reported the call came four days after the fire department's home visit, while the NKy Tribune said it was within two days of Graham's arrival home.

Stiner told WLWT the bond between the crew and the Stockwell family is lasting. She said it was meaningful to see how far Graham has come.

Three years later, Graham is tracheostomy-free and no longer needs medical equipment, according to his family. He celebrated his birthday at Station #34, located at 8101 Dream St., with the firefighters who responded that night.

Carl Stockwell said the reunion caught the family off guard.

"This is nothing we expected. We thought we were going to come and just be able to check out the fire trucks," he said.

Graham now wears a fire truck outfit at home and plays with toy fire trucks, his father said. Carl Stockwell told WCPO he has "no doubt" his son will want to be a firefighter one day.

Upcoming community events:

  • Oct. 27: Florence Y'alloween Fest at Thomas More Stadium, featuring 70-plus vendors.
  • Nov. 1–11: Florence Witness Tree daily veterans ceremony.