Left to right: Dakkota Moreno, Sharon Kennebeck, Gary Kennebeck
Sharon and Gary Kennebeck are long-time residents of Wabasha and the Pepin township. Gary Kennebeck fell off a tanker 26 years ago at his job at Dairyland Power and recalled a bumpy ride on a transfer to Mayo Clinic, where a surgeon saved his arm. Now 26 years later, his wife Sharon found herself on an ambulance ride to Mayo Clinic. She needed a lifesaving transport for a dangerous heart attack. They stopped by the Wabasha Ambulance station ahead of National EMS Week to thank the Wabasha Ambulance Service providers for this vital service.
Sharon went to Wabasha St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on April 6, 2026 for chest pains that weren’t going away. It turned out she was having had a myocardial infarction (heart attack), with 90% of her artery blocked. Her heart attack required an Advanced Life Support transfer to Mayo Clinic Hospital. The Wabasha Ambulance Service providers quickly arrived at St. Elizabeth’s. Dakkota Moreno (paramedic), provided cardiac monitoring and medication delivered through pumps throughout the ride, with assistance from EMT Tiffany Risch. Wabasha Ambulance EMR Bryton Miller drove the ambulance.
Wabasha Ambulance Service providers Tiffany Risch, Bryton Miller, Dakkota Moreno
Risch, who has been a volunteer EMT in Wabasha for 25 years, immediately recognized Sharon through a mutual connection.
Risch recalls, “She was anxious and being able to talk to her and have that shared connection, helped take her mind off the situation.”
From that instant familiarity, the transport and EMS services provided by Moreno, Risch, and Miller went smoothly.
“They maintained my cardiac stability perfectly across the 50-mile trip and made the entire transition to Mayo feel seamless. They didn’t just treat my condition; they treated me as a person. Their professionalism, calmness, and kindness helped lower my anxiety during a very frightening time,” recalls Sharon about that day.
Sharon was later told by her doctors that timing and immediate care was critical to her positive outcome. The ambulance saved time and minutes getting her there.
“Seeing and experiencing the dedication of the crew first-hand makes you realize how vital this service is for our community. They are an essential link that ensures that patient at Gundersen St. Elizabeth can access the world-class cardiac care units at Mayo Clinic and in La Crosse. They saved my life and now I am getting top level cardiac rehab care with St. Elizabeth’s three times a week,” said Sharon.
For National EMS Week, the Kennebecks have a message of thanks to the Wabasha Ambulance Service, Fire, and Police.
“Wabasha is fortunate to have dedicated ambulance, police, and fire services based right in town. These local teams are always ready to respond to emergencies, from medical crises and fires to general calls for assistance, often arriving within minutes. To ensure this vital protection remains close at hand, it is essential for our community to support these services in every way possible.”
To learn more about joining the Wabasha Ambulance Service, please call Ambulance Director Ryan Marking at 651-565-2633 or email ambdir@wabasha.org.
