10% Thursday, March 8, 2007 Man’s effort to save a life gives hope to others By ANNIE SWEENEY On an October morning in 1999, Matthew Harrington walked out of his North Side home, beard a commotion and went around back ‘to see a man lying on the ground. He then made a decision that ‘changed the lives of many. Harrington rushed to Patrick ‘Mort, who hud stopped breathing fie alling thee tories trom backyard porch, and began to ad- minister CPR. Tt was a decision recognized Wednesday night by Town Hall District police Lt. Marsha Feld: ‘man, who awarded Harrington a Contificate of Recognition. ‘The 39-year-old Harrington, who was on fis way to work at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, found Mort bleeding profusely From his head. He could tall Mort's ‘eck was broken, “knew then that all I could do was kéep him alive long enough for his parents to say goodbye. and, hopefully, give the gift of life to arrington said He was able to work on Mort, who was lying on the pavement in about 20 minutes until paramedics rived. Within 24 hours of arriving at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospi tal, Mort, 24, was declared brain dead, But Harrington's effort to keep hhim alive was not ia vain Sharon Ward, teauma nurse co: ‘ordinator at Illinois Masonic, suid Mort's family was grateful’ t Sen SAS ts Matthew Har jay night, ‘Town Hall District police Lt. Marsha Feldman presi ‘ington with a Cerificate of Recognition on Wednes could spend their final day with ton's quick action, this man's ot him in the dignified setting of a gans would not have been viable, hospital, she said. “Several people's live Although she eannot, for privacy W2#® Saved reasons, say how many people te —_ ceived “organs, Ward said she [ —————————————$—— doesn’t doubt the significance of Harrington's effort. God bless him,” Ward said, “It really does make a differenc This is the best story. don’t beat | ‘many stories like this.” Feldman recognized Harrington at the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy meeting for his “decisive action and display of compassion.” f it wasn't for Mr. HarringINSIDE ‘Lake View man honored as a neighborhood hero by Pre Perenst ‘News Eoirox Lake View resident Mate Harington was on his way to work, sary one morning in, October of 1999 when he noticed that some- ig was Wrong very. wrong. instead of condnuing on his way— as most humed Chicagoans mighe have done—Harcngion stopped to lend a hand. In the proces, he helped give people around’ che county a nev lease on bf. Harthaton had just lf his home Sin the 900 bloc af W Newpore ve when he noticed a commotion com- ing from the apartment ual next door Hamington rushed around the back of the building and discovered nck Mo 24, bag on the ground, bloodied and bro en, According to police repons, Mort had fallen Eom his third story porch afer a night of drinking 7. Mor wasn't breathing,” and Harington administered CPR, koxp ing the severely injured man alive tunel paramedics armed, More was taken to linois Masonie Hospital where he was declared bran dead the nex day Though Harrington ast able to sme Bore’ He fis inely ers did help t save—or improve—the tives of others. Because Mor had been lpr alive unal he eacked the ospital doctors were able to collect, is omgans for much-needed wans- las. And the young man's family was able to spend a few last, pre- cious hours with him. Haarington was recognized last ‘week for his det of simple heroism, when the 23rd Clown Hall police dlsonce presented him with an of ial Cerificate of Recognition at a meeting of Chicago Altemative Pobeing Strategy (CAPS) Beat 2331 ‘'m just humbled and honored to get ths," Harington said, alter ‘eeeiving the commendation His boss, however was noc 50 appreciative of his efforts Hamington, 39, was on his way to work at the Chicago Mereantle Exchange when he stopped to ty to help his fallen neighbor He was late © work, and though he had a good excuse, he was Dred. His boss required proof of Harrington's story—proof that he coulda’t pro- vide in enough time to save his job. Harington holds no. grudges, however “L went on to other things, which is fine,” Harington: cold Inside ast week, Hamngion did, however, take lng CPR to an injured man, something with him when he lf the Mere Taowldge of CP, which he lame na cbs ofred the extange: “Us jst some Skog tar el ays ened low and {hough maybe | ould help some be od e's, ad tre thm once Haringon bas used his CPR Know how dee dmsone fo see te UE of» Syeaold in Steamboat, Springs, CO, once to hepa woman ‘tho nd a ean anackon thee and the lst cme in the elle to sive Mon Mlarington eerbers iat night con che el well. [twas his bieeday— March 5, 1998—and he and a few frends were aking the Ravenswood line downtown to celebrate che ‘esision with dinner and a move. & fellow passenger collapsed with @ hheart atack, and Harrington used (CPR to revive her and keep her alive unt help amrved. Lake View resident Matt Harrington was honored at a Chicago ‘Aterative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting last week for administer Harrington seems to have a koucle for being in the right place at the nght ime. just two week before he med to save Patick Mors life, Harrington was caking his lau wo a dry cleaners in the neighbor hhood when he noviced that a nearby aparument building was on fre. He stopped shor, looked to see which floor was buming, then helped to evacuate residents of the building. In a hury to drop offhis clesing, Hartingzon left the soene before fire: fighters anived—bur noc before ake ing the time to make a difference.