Small thanks

Deepa Bharath

Making toys has been a little more than a hobby for Bob Borders.

The 70-year-old Newport Coast resident has been making miniature

antique trains, cars and carousels ever since he was a teenager.

So, when Newport Beach paramedics helped him take his wife, Ruth, to

the hospital after she developed complications from back surgery in

February, Borders decided to thank them the way he knew best.

On Friday, he and his wife drove to Station No. 3 on Santa Barbara

Drive and presented Paramedic Brian Slater and the department with a

miniature model of a paramedic van and a firetruck.

On the van, inscribed on a brass plate, are the words: “Our heartfelt

thanks for your fantastic service.”

Borders said he was “really impressed” with the firefighters’

dedication and efficiency when they responded to his 911 call Feb. 5

after his wife began to have trouble breathing.

Slater arrived within minutes, administered oxygen and took her to the

hospital, where she was diagnosed with a blood clot in her lungs.

“Maybe this is [the way they] work all the time,” Borders said. “But

the way they helped my wife and took care of her, I was really touched.”

Slater said he was impressed by the miniature models.

“They look phenomenal,” he said. “I can’t believe he made them in a

month.”

It was a kind gesture, Slater added.

“For me, personally, it’s gratifying,” he said. “It makes me feel good

about what we do. And it’s nice to know people appreciate it.”

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .