Nurse remembered for teaching emergency medicine

Excerpts from ChicagoSunTimes.com:

Cheryl Michalek was known for her unique blend of toughness and warmth, often called “Trauma Mama.” Her approach to emergency medical training was both firm and caring, and she taught thousands of first-responders over the years. These professionals then passed on what they learned to even more emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, and police officers.

Mrs. Michalek passed away on March 5 at her home in Riverdale after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was 77 years old and had been married to Richard Michalek for 57 years. Her funeral was attended by numerous firefighters and police officers in full dress uniform, including a special tribute from the Dolton Fire Department, which raised an aerial ladder and flew the American flag in her honor.

For decades, Mrs. Michalek would finish her nursing shift at Little Company of Mary Hospital and head to EMT classes in the south and southwest suburbs, all while still in uniform. Her dedication to teaching never wavered, even late into the night.

“She always emphasized that when you’re treating a patient, you should treat them like family,” said Midlothian Fire Chief Stephen M. Hotwagner. “They’re someone’s brother, father, daughter, or son. You have to give them the same respect and care you’d want for your own family.”

Teaching in front of experienced and sometimes overconfident firefighters and police officers wasn’t easy, but Mrs. Michalek had a way of handling it. Growing up in North Roseland, she was used to standing her ground. If a student acted out, she wouldn’t hesitate to challenge them. She might say, “Do you wanna get up here and teach?”

Dr. Bernie Heilicser, medical director of the South Cook County EMS System, said, “She trained so many EMTs with passion and humility. She truly made a difference in their lives.”

Among those who benefited from her classes were three former Chicago fire commissioners: James Joyce, Ray Orozco Jr., and Robert Hoff, according to her son Gary Michalek, a firefighter himself.

Dr. Michael O’Mara, chair of emergency medicine at Little Company of Mary, added, “Cheryl was one of the pioneers. She was one of the first nurses to teach EMTs on the South Side.”

Her children remember her as a strong, loving woman. Sue Stacey, a dispatch supervisor, recalls, “I remember my mom pulling out pennies from her purse to buy a pool pass for the summer. We didn’t take vacations, but we always had Sunday dinner together.”

If her students struggled, she invited them over for study sessions, said Rick, another son who went into construction. “She always made sure we were supported, not just in class, but in life.”

She is survived by her husband, two sons—Gary, a firefighter, and Rick, a construction worker—and Scott, a Metra conductor. She also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom will carry on her legacy of kindness and strength.

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