Firefighter Mark Reynolds thought it was a routine call: a multi-car crash on the interstate near Portsmouth, VA. The 12-year veteran of Station 17 geared up and went to work with his crew, securing the scene and checking on shaken drivers.

Then he spotted a silver heart pendant swinging from a rearview mirror—the same necklace he’d given his wife, Lisa. His chest tightened, but he stayed composed, moving car to car and offering calm reassurance while the team stabilized the incident.

Once everything was under control, Reynolds called Lisa. She was rattled but safe, and the coincidence hit him hard—a jolt of just how quickly life can change.

The moment left a mark on the whole station: duty first, family always in mind. “It made me appreciate my family, my community, and the work we do every day,” Reynolds said. “Life can surprise you, and sometimes it does in the most personal ways.”