Jackie and Mike Piggott prove the theory that opposites attract. At 5 feet tall, Jackie sees the world at a different level than her 6-foot 8-inch husband. Where Jackie is committed to her year-round flip-flops, Mike is a crocs man, size 16. Where Jackie is effusive, Mike offers few words. Yet for “Big Mike,” Jackie is the hero, as demonstrated with a tribute tattoo he has inked upon his arm.
Mike decided to depict Jackie as a caped superhero with outstretched arm soaring over the city with “911” below her. Two storks in flight represent Jackie’s phone-led baby deliveries, and three hearts represent CPR saves, to which he’ll soon have to add another.
“I’m proud and honored by his tattoo, but it’s so weird for him to feel that way about me,” Jackie said. “To be placed on that pedestal is strange when it’s just what I do.”
Beyond his tattoo, Mike tries to support Jackie every day. Whether it’s driving her to work in bad weather or staying up to talk after a hard shift, Mike is there.
“I’m resident chef a lot of the time,” Mike said. He is a staple of the dispatch team, keeping the entire shift happy with donut runs and dad jokes.
“He could probably pick up a call at this point!” Jackie said.
Mike appreciates the multi-faceted work of dispatch: “I can’t talk, type, step on foot pedals, move a mouse, and listen left, right, and across the room at the same time.” Yet Mike knew that role was a perfect fit for Jackie, which is why he encouraged her through the lengthy application process 11 years ago.
“We made that decision as a family,” Jackie said. “Mike has always been a hands-on dad to our autistic son, but we knew he’d be taking on more. After long hours, I’d be returning to my family with my energy depleted and not much more to give. We’d be celebrating holidays on different days, planning vacations a year in advance, and trading time together for shift work, but we felt it was worth it.”
Jackie now serves as an EMD, Center Training Officer, and Acting Supervisor at Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) in Vancouver, Washington (USA). She has earned the designation of “High Flyer ACE” for 2022 and 2023 with 100% compliance on her medical calls.
Jackie attributes her high compliance to her high levels of compassion. “Being a mom of a child with a disability has given me greater empathy,” Jackie said. “I treat each call like it’s my family member on the line.”
Having that mindset is part of what keeps Jackie going. She sees heroic acts among the devastation, like her most recent cardiac save where the caller willingly performed CPR to save a stranger’s life.
“There are days when we’ve seen a lot of loss,” Jackie said. “I try to accept that I’ve done what I can to help, but sometimes the heaviness hits later. Mike sees that and lets me hug, cry, or say a few bad words. He asks me, ‘What do you need from me right now?’”
After 27 years together, Jackie and Mike have learned to lean on each other. That strength was put into action a few years ago when the couple was waiting to be seated at their favorite steakhouse. Jackie noticed commotion caused by a woman choking. Before Mike realized what was happening, Jackie was already on the ground doing CPR. Together, they took turns doing compressions until the woman awoke before paramedics arrived.
One thing is clear when it comes to a companionship like Jackie and Mike: Even heroes need sidekicks. “I wouldn’t want anyone else standing next to me,” Jackie said.
