MARION, Ill. (WSIL) -- Air Evac Lifeteam members Arianne Emling and Beau McFarlin are set to receive the prestigious Stars of Life award in Washington, D.C., for their lifesaving efforts with a heart patient.

Emling and McFarlin, a flight nurse and flight paramedic respectively, took decisive action when a patient on an Impella heart pump faced a critical situation at a rural cardiac care facility.

"We don't have backup in the air," Emling said. "You prepare, you rely on your partner, and you stay focused on what the patient needs."

For three hours, they worked tirelessly to stabilize the patient, ensuring the Impella device functioned properly and addressing life-threatening changes.

"We don't do this work for recognition—we do it because someone's life is on the line," McFarlin said.

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