Lights and sirens fill Indian Heights to celebrate boy’s return home

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Emmett Auginbaugh loves police cars and fire trucks. But he hasn’t had many chances to see them in his five young years. In fact, he recently spent 455 straight days in Riley Hospital for Children over the past two years.

Fortunately, Emmett made it home July 13, just 10 days before his birthday. It was a long wait, but his return is nothing short of miraculous.

Emmett was born with just half a heart.

According to his mother, Savannah, the boy was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and his entire life has been a fight.

“His lifetime has been a period of three surgeries,” said Savannah. “He had his first surgery at seven days old. His second one was at around six months, and then his third one was when he was about three years old.”

The family thought perhaps the third time was the charm. They moved into a home in the Indian Heights subdivision and began the process of establishing a “normal” life. Emmett’s heart had other ideas.

“Right when we moved here, his face started swelling,” said Savannah. “And his lungs started filling up with fluid. So, our fourth admission was at Riley. We ended up getting on a heart transplant list.”

It was a long wait, but eventually another child – compatible with Emmett – lost their fight. With great sacrifice and no small measure of grace, one child’s loss became a new life for Emmett. He received a new heart, and now he is home.

But, about those police cars and fire trucks.

Howard County Emergency Management Agency director Janice Hart heard Emmett’s story and learned of his love for those lights and sirens. Since it was both his birthday and his homecoming, she decided to bring the boy a special gift.

“He just got out of the hospital, and he can't have many family members or friends come to him for his birthday,” said Hart. “But he loves emergency vehicles. His Grandpa asked about EMA doing a drive-by with emergency vehicles, but I wanted to make it bigger. I want that line to be a mile long!"

Hart got on the horn, and before long she had plenty of help to make Emmett’s birthday unforgettable. Just about every public service agency in the area got in line on July 26. The Kokomo Fire Department, the Kokomo Police Department, the Howard County Sheriff’s Office, the Indiana State Police, volunteer fire departments from Taylor Township and Harrison Township, an ambulance from Community Howard Regional Health, family, friends, and well-wishers – and of course the Howard County EMA – participated.

There were fire trucks, police cars, and emergency vehicles of every shape and size, and for nearly eight minutes, they paraded through Emmett’s neighborhood with every light and siren blazing and blaring.

Many of them brought gifts. Emmett’s family, clad in facemasks and gloves, received the presents as the procession drove by. Thanks were given from behind tears of joy. Emmett was overwhelmed by all the waves and smiles and sights and sounds.

And the community was just a little bit brighter on a rainy summer day.

See video of the full parade for Emmett on the Lantern’s Facebook page and group.