Spanish Fork man meets teens who saved his life

SPANISH FORK, Utah — It was a reunion that had been months in the making.

Farris Child sat in the front row Tuesday night, surrounded by his family, at the Spanish Fork City Council meeting.

“I’m just grateful to everyone who’s been in my path,” Farris said. “It was definitely a shock.”

An avid runner, only 49 years old, he says it was a typical Saturday in late August. He was at his son’s cross country meet in Spanish Fork.

“I like to stand there so I can really cheer for my son,” Farris said. “And then I went there, I don’t remember much for the next few days.”

His wife, DeeAnna, said she received a phone call from emergency medical services.

“I could hear things in the background,” DeeAnna said. “They were asking me questions, medical history and all that.”

Farris was taken by ambulance to Mountain View Hospital in Payson. That’s when doctors confirmed he was having a heart attack.

“They saved his life and saved our family from real upheaval,” DeeAnna said.

Farris was then transported to St. Mark Hospital in Millcreek. He would eventually undergo quintuple bypass surgery. He spent 13 days in hospital.

When Farris collapsed, two Spanish Fork High School students were the first on the scene and began CPR.

“It was exactly the right place, at exactly the right time, with exactly the right people,” Farris said.

On Tuesday, Farris was able to shake the hands of the men and women who cared for him and helped save his life.

He also came face to face with teenagers who took action that day.

“It was just good to see him, good to know that he’s OK, that he’s able to walk with everything that’s going on,” said Traven Elquist, a student at Spanish Fork High School.

“He’s slowly dying, and now, about a month later, he’s everything he’s happy, he’s smiling,” added PJ Merrill, another junior from Spanish Fork.

Both were recognized at Tuesday’s meeting and received plaques and an EMS coin.

“Thank you for your exceptional courage and life-saving actions,” Traven said as he read the plaque.

It was a special bond formed following a traumatic incident.

“I think it’s a good step for me to meet these people and have this opportunity to help me move forward,” Farris said.

Farris says he’s taking things day by day, but he’s on his way to a full recovery.