Crime specialist's medical episode demonstrates 'We need community just as much as they need us'

Rick Monroe

special to Village News

When Heather Mitchell gave her Oct. 13 presentation at Aurora Heights about Neighborhood Watch and crime prevention, she brought pink cookies to thank the residents for their help with a "little" medical episode she had on Sept. 9.

The treats were to thank the residents for their help in September.

"That evening, I was scheduled to do a Neighborhood Watch/Crime Prevention Presentation for this community," the crime prevention specialist said. "That community had had a series of break-ins and reached out to our department for help and guidance."

Mitchell never made it entirely to the scheduled meeting.

"As I was getting ready to get out of my vehicle in front of the community clubhouse, I began to lose my vision and both of my eyes started vibrating to the left. I immediately got nauseous and could not sit up," she recalled. "I called my sergeant and told him that I was having a medical issue and called the point of contact for the community meeting. I informed her I was in front of the venue, and I would have to reschedule, but said she could come to my car to get the resource bags."

"In my mind, she would just come get the bags and go back to the clubhouse," Mitchell continued. "That is not what happened. As I was sitting in my car with my seat reclined waiting for my sergeant to come to my location and my family to come pick me up, I hear a knock at the window. I opened my eyes and see at least 20 faces in my windshield and a lady knocking on the driver window asking me if I was OK.

"I rolled my window down and told her I just needed to keep my eyes closed, that I thought I was having a medical issue. She told me they were not going to leave me and that they were going to wait until help arrived."

"At this point I was completely horrified that this was happening to me and scared as to what was going on. I felt completely vulnerable. As I briefly opened my eyes, it seemed that the whole community was gathered around my car waiting with me. A deputy and my sergeant showed up and I was still not doing good. North County Fire was dispatched to our location to do an evaluation, and at that point my husband and twins had come to the location.

"All I could hear was a community member say, 'OMG her babies are here!' It was the most surreal experience to know my kids were there and the community was so caring and reassuring that their 'Mommy was going to be OK.'"

North County Fire evaluated me and luckily my vitals were good, so it was decided that I would go home with my family to be evaluated by my doctor. Long story short, I had a reaction to new medication. After my dose was lowered, I was fine."

Mitchell said in the following days, many of the Aurora Heights community members reached out to see if she was OK.

"It was incredible to think that perfect strangers cared enough to see how I was doing," she shared.

At the Neighborhood Watch redo on Oct. 13, things got emotional.

"Even though I had never met these people face-to-face, I was greeted with hugs and well wishes. The meeting was a success. They learned about the effectiveness of reporting suspicious activity, and resources that are on our main Sheriff's webpage. I discussed the importance of locking up vehicles and belongings based on area crime trends."

The deputy who patrols their area also made a visit. Residents were reassured by the deputy that he provides regular extra patrol in their area during his graveyard shift, and a community relationship quickly began, Mitchell noted.

"This community is unique because it is right at the I-15 and Highway 76, behind a Quality Inn and park and ride," Mitchell said. "Residents were extremely appreciative of his time."

"The message to this story is that we need the community just as much as they need us," she concluded.