Patrick Sullivan and his wife, Ciara, were expecting twins when she suffered a medical emergency, according to social media posts by Rutland’s emergency dispatch center. The babies were delivered by emergency C-section on Dec. 16, but they were in critical condition, as was their mother.
Residents of Rutland are offering condolences and financial support to a local firefighter whose wife and newborn twins died on Friday night, after they were taken off life support, officials said.
Rutland firefighter Patrick Sullivan and his wife Ciara. Ciara Sullivan died on Friday along with her 11-day-old newborn twins, after they were both taken off life support.
Officials announced on Saturday that both Ciara Sullivan, 30, and her 11-day-old twins died the night before.
“James Michael and Elizabeth Joanne passed away quietly and peacefully, alongside their loving mother, Ciara Joanne,” officials said. “Words cannot express the total devastation and unimaginable loss this tragedy has brought. Please keep Pat in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time — he needs all the strength and support we can give him.”
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An online fundraiser for the Sullivan family had raised over $115,000 as of Saturday night.
Dozens of people attended a vigil for the Sullivans on the Rutland Town Common on Thursday, according to photos and videos posted to social media by the dispatch center.
Before working as a a firefighter and EMT, Patrick Sullivan was an emergency dispatch supervisor for the town of Rutland for over 13 years, officials said.
Ciara Sullivan also previously worked as a 911 dispatcher, according to a post by the Rutland Fire Department. At the time of her death, she worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
At Thursday’s vigil, Ciara Sullivan was described by one Rutland dispatcher as “one of the kindest, most generous, and loving people you’ll ever meet.”
The Sullivans were “eagerly anticipating” becoming first-time parents, officials said.
“Tonight has been horrible,” Sullivan wrote on social media early Saturday morning. “I can’t explain the total and utter devastation, anger, rage, and loss I feel that this unnecessary tragedy has brought me.”
“I plan on taking the coming months to heal, if that’s even possible,” he added.
In the post, Sullivan thanked friends and family for the “outpouring of support,” as well as the doctors, nurses, and staff of the hospital’s neonatal and surgical ICUs, who he said “made this nightmare a little more bearable.”
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“If any of you see this by chance know that I truly love all of you and I will never be able to thank you enough for how incredible you treated my family,” he wrote.
Several organizations expressed their condolences on social media on Saturday, including the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and the First Congregational Church of Rutland.
The Rutland Fire Department announced it would host a 5K race in April in honor of the Sullivans, according to a recording of Thursday’s vigil, with all proceeds going directly to the family.
Camilo Fonseca can be reached at camilo.fonseca@globe.com. Follow him on X @fonseca_esq and on Instagram @camilo_fonseca.reports.
Rutland firefighter’s wife and newborn twins die after emergency
