12/29/2024
*** END OF YEAR ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CHAD!!! ***
Today marks the end of 2024 for us, as it is officially the last Saturday of the year. – We call today’s class the “Extreme Procrastinators Club” – not only is it the last Saturday of the month, but it’s also the last Saturday of the year! :P
Today also marks the first full calendar year that I have taught all our classes full time, without Carol by my side.
As of Saturday, December 9th, 2023; I had taken over as the full-time instructor, as Carol started to progress and deteriorate. She contracted Covid the weekend after Thanksgiving, which exacerbated her symptoms, and she would go on to pass away exactly 7 weeks later, on January 13th.
To say this year has been challenging would be an understatement. Not only did we lose an integral part of our business. I lost a mother, and Vinney lost his wife of nearly 50 years.
On Saturday, January 13th, 2024, I taught a full line up of classes beginning with BLS at 8am. ACLS at 930am, and PALS at 1130am. My father and my aunt (Carol’s sister - Beverly) went to the hospice unit to spend time with Carol. I stayed behind to complete the classes for a large group of students. I explained to everyone what was going on, and that we may need to cancel the class if I get a phone call from my dad. We finished the classes at 1pm, and I left for Memorial South in Hollywood. My mother passed at 2:36pm. She waited for me to get there and be by her side.
The point in telling you that story, is to prove to each and everyone of you this one thing:
WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!!
From that day forward, we have received HUNDREDS of phone calls, enquiring on if we’re going to continue teaching the classes?
This business is Carol’s legacy. It is my job, as her son, to continue her legacy. That is our goal moving forward. Vince and I have picked up the ball and continued running with it.
WE NEVER STOPPED…
When Covid happened… WE NEVER STOPPED…
When our founder passed… WE NEVER STOPPED…
I know in my heart, as a healthcare provider FIRST AND FOREMOST, that these certifications are critical to our doctors, nurses, in-patient providers, and first responders; not just in south Florida, BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD. That’s right, we have providers that fly in exclusively for us. – This year alone, I have taught classes to doctors all over the country, Houston, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and one from Italy; not included the students from all over Florida – Side bar: did you that Disney World, has a full staff of medical providers?? – I taught PALS and ACLS to a nurse that works at EPCOT… TODAY!!!
At 13 years old, Carol made my take my first CPR certification class at Memorial Regional in a small office. She wanted me to get this certification because I wanted to be a lifeguard. Fast forward >>> age 16, She pushed me to get my CPR Instructor certification. I taught my first class with Dr. Todd Soard at University Hospital, in Plantation (which is now Woodmont Hospital - HCA). It’s very possible, I may have been the youngest CPR instructor the country - all because Carol had a plan…
At 18 – I started in the OR at Hollywood Medical Center, as an orderly. My job was to clean the rooms and prep them for the next case. During my time there, I learned from several doctors, HANDS ON training on being a Neuro-Surgery surgical tech. By 20, I was working privately for a Neurosurgeon who trained me 1-on-1 from the ground up. From there, during my down time, I would walk over to the ER and ICU to work with Carol and her teams. She was the director of Emergency and Critical Care at HMC / Memorial South. My end goal was to eventually get into emergency medicine.
From that point forward and many career changes, I ended up in emergency medicine. The goal was to take over for my mother “one day” and become an instructor to teach the classes full time.
At 34 – that day came true. After several year of learning, training, and working next to Carol, helping to develop her classes, I earned my ACLS and PALS instructor cards. – Her job was now complete! She retired from Memorial Healthcare Systems (after nearly 40 years) shortly thereafter. But Carol wasn’t done yet… she went on to help start a nursing school (I bet you didn’t know that HAHAHA!) Why wouldn’t she help start a nursing school??
It’s hard to believe that 10 years later, that “one day” would arrive… here we are, just 2 weeks shy of the 1-year anniversary since she’s left us.
This year I have taught 49 ACLS Classes, 47 BLS classes and 36 PALS classes. It has been exciting, scary, challenging, and exhausting all at the same time…. BUT THIS is what makes it all worth it…. I received this e-mail today:
From: “abcxyz”.com – OBVIOUSL E-MAIL CHANGE LOL
To: RomanosWay
Sat, Dec 28 at 6:34 PM
Hi, it's Claudia M. I took the class today in your house and wanted to give you feedback.
It was probably the best review class for all 3 subjects I ever took.
Love the new handouts.
Keep up the amazing work and awesome classes.
Ms. Carol is looking down and will smile and be proud of you.
See you in 2 years.
Thanks again and Happy and Healthy New Year!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
In closing, I want to thank each and every one of you, the providers from ALL OVER THE WORLD, that trusted not only my mother, but now trust in ME. Thank you for allowing us to be there for you, to help you, to answer any questions, and to help further your careers!
None of this would have been possible without ALL your encouragement, dedication, thoughtfulness, and kind words.
But… Please know one thing…
WE WONT STOP…
I WONT STOP!!!
-Chad V. Romano
Vice President / Head instructor
Romano’s Way – Stressfree ACLS, BLS, & PALS
