Valley Nurse’s Heroic Twist: Rescues the Firefighter Who Once Saved Her Life

While undergoing treatment for a life-threatening condition, retired Glendale Fire Captain Chuck Montgomery reconnected with a former patient he helped save nearly 28 years ago.

PHOENIX — Chuck Montgomery, a retired Glendale Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief, was diagnosed a few months ago with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, an occupational cancer.

During his treatment, he encountered a poignant twist of fate that brought him face-to-face with a life he once saved.

In September 1996, Montgomery was a fire captain when Christy Lessnau, now a registered nurse for City of Hope, was involved in a car crash at 51st Avenue and Beardsley.

Lessnau recalls that a drunk driver ran a red light, striking her and her mother.

“I remember looking over; my mom was completely unconscious,” Lessnau recounted.

The crash left Lessnau with severe injuries, including a significant cut near her chin and throat.

“I felt a warm sensation running down my throat,” Lessnau said. “That’s when I realized I had a deep cut.”

Over the years, Lessnau never forgot the Glendale Firefighters who saved her life.

“They basically saved both our lives and provided me with comfort and reassurance,” she said.

Recently, while working a shift and overhearing Montgomery talk with another firefighter during treatment, Lessnau initiated a conversation with him about his career.

“He mentioned he worked in Glendale,” Lessnau said. “I asked if he knew a gentleman named Rollie. When he responded affirmatively, I realized he was one of the firefighters who saved me.”

Montgomery revealed his identity, and the moment was surreal for Lessnau.

“I was so happy to thank him again, and he was glad to see me doing well,” she added.

Lessnau is now part of the medical team treating Montgomery’s stage three cancer, providing hope for remission.

“Battling this cancer is like fighting a fire,” Montgomery said. “You need a plan and the will to extinguish it.”