In Sickness, in Health, and in the SUNY Broome Paramedic Program: Ari and Chris Vanderweydes

By: Kate Salamida

Marriage means having a partner in life – for Ari and Chris Vanderweyde careers in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were never part of the plan, but it’s become their purpose. Together the husband and wife duo are taking on SUNY Broome’s paramedic program.

It’s not every day you meet the love of your life in aisle eight at Lowe’s, but that’s exactly how it happened for Ari and Chris. Both were Long Island natives who found their way to the Southern Tier in search of new opportunities. Ari initially planned to pursue engineering, but ended up in retail customer service, while Chris found his footing in retail management. They married in 2021, and while EMS was never on their radar, that would soon change.

Not long into their marriage, Ari’s father suffered a near-fatal Grade 5 brain aneurysm. As newcomers to the area, the couple felt isolated and overwhelmed. What they didn’t expect was the overwhelming amount of support from their neighbors in the community, especially from their local EMS squad.

“They gave us the shirt off their back,” Ari recalled. “They checked in on us even after the call was over.”

Receiving so much compassion and support from the community inspired Chris to leap into the unknown territory of EMS.

Chris joined the volunteer fire service with South New Berlin Fire, and later transitioned into EMT. Seeing the joy this new career brought Chris piqued Ari’s interest, and shortly after, she followed suit. With a resume that included retail and cosmetology, Ari admitted she had little to no knowledge of the medical world, but with hard work and time, things began to click.

The gratification and pride they felt made all the challenges worth it – in Ari’s words, “knowing you were the best part of someone’s worst day.”

After receiving their EMT certifications the couple embarked on a new journey together. They enrolled in SUNY Broome’s paramedic program in hopes of furthering their careers. The excitement they had for continuing their education quickly dwindled as returning to school full-time became financially overwhelming. Chris recalls falling behind on payments, putting them at risk of losing their home. With heavy hearts, they stepped away from the program, admitting the realities that they could not continue their passion while juggling working full-time, going to class, and paying student loans.

Then, SUNY Reconnect entered the picture. The state’s new free community college program became their lifesaver, as they learn to save the lives of others.

“It saved us financially,” Chris shared. “The weight of not having to work so many hours a week to make student loan payments was life-changing for us.”

SUNY Reconnect allowed the Vanderweydes to devote their time to continuing their education, tuition-free. While the couple was nervous to return to the classroom after their hiatus, they were welcomed back to the paramedic program with supportive, open arms. While returning to the classroom was fulfilling, the highlight was having a best friend (and built-in study partner) to share the journey.

At home, the couple spends their evenings chatting about what they learned on their different rotations in class, and how they would respond to situations differently. Having someone who understands the trials and tribulations of working in EMS makes all the difference.

“Our motivation stems from the fact that we have been on the other side. We’ve been the people waiting for the ambulance,” Ari reflects. “We know that it’s like to hope and pray for someone to come to help.”

While duty still calls outside of the classroom, home life is a bit calmer for the happy couple. From spending outdoor time with their two furry companions, Milo and Millie, going to the gym, and cutting the grass (or plowing the driveway in the midst of winter), Ari and Chris enjoy the simple pleasures of life. To some, running errands and grocery shopping might feel like a burden; to them, it’s the highlight of their day.

At home they’re partners in life but on the rigg, they’re simply doing their jobs “Most patients don’t even know we’re husband and wife,” Ari jokes, “In the program and at work, we’re treated as individuals, not as a couple.”