A Rutland firefighter’s wife and newborn twins have died days after a medical emergency – Boston 25 News

RUTLAND, Mass. — A Rutland firefighter’s wife and newborn twins have died, days after the pregnant mother suffered a “serious medical emergency” and had to be hospitalized, officials announced Saturday morning.

“The department chief regrets to announce the sudden deaths of Firefighter Patrick Sullivan’s wife of 30 years, Ciara, and their 11-day-old twins, James and Elizabeth,” the Rutland Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post.

James and Elizabeth died “quietly and peacefully” along with Ciara, the Rutland Regional Emergency Communication Center wrote in a separate post.

“Words cannot express the total devastation and unimaginable loss this tragedy has brought,” the Rutland RECC said. “Please keep Pat in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time – he needs all the strength and support we can give him.”

Ciara suffered a medical emergency on Tuesday, December 17, just hours before she was due to deliver her babies. She was taken to Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and intubated.

Patrick and Ciara’s twins were delivered prematurely via emergency cesarean section and were ventilated.

Patrick Sullivan spoke to Boston 25 from the hospital Thursday night and said, “The prognosis is not good… I’m devastated and angry that this is happening.”

First responders and Rutland residents gathered for a vigil at the city’s community park earlier this week to pray for the Sullivan family.

Patrick’s colleagues were among the first responders to Ciara’s emergency call.

“It broke my heart to hear my fellow firefighter crying and screaming while his wife lay on the front steps,” a colleague explained.

Patrick currently serves as a city firefighter and worked as an emergency dispatcher for more than 13 years. The Rutland Fire Department remembered Ciara as a “dedicated public servant” who previously worked as a 911 dispatcher and emergency management specialist for FEMA.

“The Sullivan family would like to express our deepest and warmest appreciation for the love and generosity during this difficult time,” the department added.

A fund set up to support the Sullivan family has raised $79,387.

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