Portsmouth, VA — For firefighter Mark Reynolds, every emergency call is a race against time. But nothing could have prepared him for the horror of arriving at the scene of a car accident only to discover that one of the victims was his own wife.It was a routine Thursday evening when the alarm sounded at Station 17. A multi-vehicle collision had been reported on the interstate, with injuries. Reynolds, a 12-year veteran of the department, suited up without hesitation, unaware that this call would change his life forever.The Call No First Responder Wants to Experience
As Engine 17 arrived at the scene, Reynolds and his team immediately assessed the wreckage. Two cars had collided head-on, and a third had swerved to avoid the crash, slamming into the guardrail. The firefighters moved quickly, stabilizing vehicles and extracting the injuredThen, as Reynolds approached one of the overturned cars, he saw something that made his blood run cold—a familiar pendant dangling from the rearview mirror. It was the silver heart necklace he had given his wife, Lisa, for their anniversary.In a distressing yet deeply moving rescue mission, a helpless stray dog was found suffering from a severe infestation of maggots and mangoworms. The poor animal was in excruciating pain, with open wounds attracting flies and parasites. Thanks to the efforts of compassionate rescuers, this brave pup received the urgent medical care it desperately needed.The Shocking Condition of the Stray Dog
The dog was discovered weak, malnourished, and covered in painful sores. The worst part? Huge maggots had burrowed deep into its skin, feeding on the infected tissue. Additionally, mangoworms (the larvae of the mango fly) had embedded themselves under the skin, causing swelling and extreme discomfort.The Painful Cleaning Process
Sedation & Initial Cleaning – To minimize suffering, the dog was sedated before treatment.
Maggot Removal – Using tweezers and antiseptic solutions, rescuers carefully extracted the wriggling maggots from the open wounds.
Mangoworm Extraction – Each mangoworm was squeezed out or surgically removed, leaving behind small holes that needed disinfection.
Wound Treatment – Antibiotic ointments and bandages were applied to prevent further infection.
The Road to Recovery