(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A 34-year-old Itasca firefighter-paramedic with terminal cancer was taken home to spend his final days in a special send-off from the fire department.
Itasca Fire Chief Jack Schneidwind said volunteers came to the hospital to take Frank Nunez home in the same ambulance he’s served in for four years.
“There’s nothing sadder than, obviously, losing somebody, especially somebody young, so vibrant as Frank,” Schneidwind said. “It’s an absolute honor to take him on this ride, but it certainly is heart-wrenching.”
Nunez left Northwestern Memorial Hospital for home hospice care along with his fiancé Christina and their dog.
The hospital provided an interview with the chief.
“You know, when you talk about somebody who’s dedicated and loves life, you’re talking about Frank,” Schneidwind said in an interview provided by the hospital. “He has not missed a day and could have missed many, many days, but he came into work every single day.”
He said Nunez looks at each day like it’s a gift.
“He came in with a great attitude, wanting to make a difference to the people that we served,” he said. “As a matter of fact, we just sent him to a class that he completed — knowing that he was sick.”
Nunez was diagnosed with a rare soft tissue cancer in 2019.
It went into remission, but the cancer returned last year.
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