How Two Harbor Care Nurses Saved a Life
A routine day at Harbor Care Health & Wellness Center turned into a life-or-death moment when a frantic man burst through the doors, desperate for help.
“Someone is overdosing, and I need help!”
Without hesitation, Antonia “Toni” Velez, LPN, and Jade Kelly, RN, leaped into action. Grabbing the clinic’s emergency defibrillator and multiple doses of Narcan, the medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, they rushed outside to the High Street parking garage. They found a young woman collapsed, her breathing dangerously shallow. Her lips and fingers had turned blue—a clear sign that oxygen was running out.
In those critical moments, every second mattered.
With calm precision, Toni and Jade administered the life-saving doses of Narcan, carefully monitoring the woman’s response. It took multiple doses, but slowly, she began to stir—life returning to her body. Once stabilized, she was transported to a local hospital for further care.
Their swift and expert response did more than just save a life—it demonstrated the vital role Harbor Care plays in the community. Nurse Manager Frank Canarelli, RN, recounted the incident with pride:
You can save a life, too. Narcan is available for FREE at our Health & Wellness Center at 45 High Street. For more information, call (603) 821-7788. Photo: (l-r) Jade Kelly, RN, Antonia “Toni” Velez, LPN, and Nurse Manager Frank Canarelli, RN.
“It is because of their quick and decisive action that this young lady survived her ordeal. Quite simply, they knew what to do and acted! This is the hallmark of a great nurse and just one example of the direct impact that Harbor Care and its employees make in our community every day.”
For Toni, who has been with Harbor Care since June 2024, the experience was just another reminder of why she works as a nurse. “I felt good,” she reflected, “but carried on with work—because that’s what nurses do.”
This is the reality for nurses at Harbor Care and across the country. They step up without question, often in high-stakes situations, to protect and care for the most vulnerable members of the community.
Toni has a simple but powerful message for the public: “When it comes to overdosing, we understand this is not something intentional. Know your surroundings and the people you are with. Always keep Narcan with you. It’s available and free at Harbor Care’s clinic.”
Her words are a reminder that preparedness saves lives—and that behind every recovery, there are compassionate medical professionals ready to answer your call for help.