St. Paul firefighter's final battle ends

ST. PAUL, MN -- Firefighter Ramon "Ray" Hain's friends and family will remember him as someone who never stopped giving, even as he left this world.

"He donated his corneas," Hain's sister Sherry Duvall told KARE, "So our family's tragedy will bring eyesight to someone else."

Hain died November 14th at age 50 from complications of a bacterial infection he contracted on the job in 1996, while trying to resusitate a badly injured patient. The typical precautions first responders take to protect themselves didn't make a difference that day.

"It was one of those perfect storms," Assistant Fire Chief Jim Smith told KARE, "He knelt into some of the victim's fluids and had an open wound on his own leg, and that became the avenue of travel for the infection."

In a matter of days his entire thigh was covered with the spreading infection, and eventually it attacked Hain's heart. By 1998 Hain knew he would need a transplant, but at the time he told KARE he didn't like what that implied.

"Unfortunately for me to live a long life and be a good dad to the kids, and a good husband," Hain told reporter Dennis Stauffer in 1998, "I need somebody else, someone else's family to have a terrible accident."

Those words took on new meaning 11 years later, when Hain's own untimely death gave vision to somone in need of a corneal transplant. But, then again, he wouldn't go out of his way to seek credit or attention.

"The only reason he did that interview in 1998 was to raise awareness about the need for organ donations in general," Duvall explained, "He didn't want the spotlight for himself."

In Hain's case it was even harder to find a donor heart large enough to support his tall 6'7" frame. And yet two months after doing that interview a suitable match was located. Doctors at Abbott-Northwestern hospital performed a successful heart transplant in late November of 1998.

"After the transplant he returned to work for awhile in support roles," Asst. Chief Smith said, "But never reached the point physically where he could return to the street to fight fires. So he left the department in the year 2000."

While his firefighting career ended after only six years, the transplant did buy Hain 11 more years of life with his wife Gail and daughters, Rachel and Sara, who were ages 1 and 3 at the time of the operation.

Hain became ill again earlier this month, and doctors at University of Minnesota Medical Center discovered his heart and kidneys were both failing.

"Until very recently he still seemed so strong and alive to us," Duvall said, "So it's been a shock to lose him so suddenly."

Two fire rigs, hoisting an American flag into the sky, greeted those who attended Hain's memorial service Saturday at Saint Michael's Lutheran Church in Roseville.

Smith said firefighters who never met Hain will still honor his sacrifice. And those who knew him will remember his as a big man with a big heart.

"He was a big strapping guy, and a treat to be around," Smith said, "And his size did not impede his speed, his effort or his stamina. He was very inspirational to those around him."

And there's no doubt in Smith's mind Hain's death was in the line of duty.

"He succumbed to an injury directly related to his profession," Smith remarked, "He was helping a civilian in need."

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