From Riley patient to EMT: LifeLine worker says he always wanted to work in critical care

Noah Holland recovered from his own health scare and now serves others.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

At first glance, a photo of Noah Holland with his parents and younger brother looks like a typical family vacation. But, the photo, taken in 2017, captures Holland’s Make-a-Wish trip to Alaska. The Make-a-Wish Foundation creates life-changing experiences for children with critical illnesses.

Seven years ago, Holland was one of those children. The son of Chad and Penny Holland grew up on Indy’s Southwest Side and graduated from Decatur Central High School. He was scheduled to graduate a year after the photo was taken but illness delayed his graduation.

Most of his life, Holland, 25, had been healthy - an active member of the marching band, and an athlete who participated in baseball, basketball, and soccer leagues. During his Sophomore year of high school he was diagnosed with leukemia.

When he started getting nose bleeds he went to a hospital close to his Mooresville, Ind. home. Bloodwork showed he either had leukemia or lymphoma and he was transported to IU Health Riley Hospital for Children. At the age of 16, Holland was in the care of Dr. Allison Yancey, his diagnosis of leukemia was confirmed and he began chemotherapy.

Now he feels like his diagnosis may have led him to his career as an EMT with IU Health LifeLine.

After high school, he was working at Kroger where he met his fiancé, Lacey Kelsey. It was during an appointment with is oncologist that he learned about careers in emergency medicine.

“I always wanted to be a fire fighter or a police office. As we started talking and she learned about my interests, she showed me information about EMT certification,” said Holland. He received certification in 2021.

“My diagnosis and care helped prepare me for what I’m doing now,” aid Holland. “My care was the best - from helping my parents navigate the financial part, to helping me understand the treatment,” said Holland. “Now, with patients I see I understand how scary things can be. There’s a lot of anxiety and they’re meeting a lot of unfamiliar people. I try to reassure them it’s temporary,” said Holland.

He said one of the best things about working with LifeLine is the support from team members. Working three 12-hour shifts, his day typically begins with stocking and fueling the vehicle, and then driving to various locations throughout the state. On any given day, that could take him to Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Terre Haute, or Evansville. He works with other EMTs to stabilize patients and prepare them to be transferred to IU Health hospitals.

Holland describes caring for an infant on one transport and working with a nurse practitioner. The emergency response was difficult. Holland, like most of the LifeLine team members doesn’t always know the patient outcomes once they are admitted to the hospital.

“It’s tough and we all have each other’s back. Ultimately, it’s like a family environment here,” he said.

And as for his own health - he still goes for annual checkups but has been clear for more than five years. Now he looks forward to his upcoming wedding on Nov. 9, and starting another chapter.