Comments on: An Unlikely Hero http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/ I doubt, therefore I think I am. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:39:19 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Foretsz http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-20015 Foretsz Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:59:29 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-20015 3 and a half years ago I backed into a parking post. You know the ones... metal tube filled with concrete. Seems I wasn't the first one, as the post already was at a 45 degree angle and hidden in a blind spot. Thing is, I mistook the accelerator for the brake pedal. <br>2 weeks later I woke to find my left side completely numb, no feeling whatsoever. My family physician said that he'd see me in his office that day and to 'come on down!'. Unfortunately, a herniated L4, L5 isn't something you want to live through. <br>The four EMS that came to pick me up (literally) must have been surprised to find that they needed to carry me down first. <br>I don't know how anyone can do the job you do. To me, you are, every last one, heroes. My eyes were streaming with tears, I hadn't slept more than five minutes at a time for the past five days, couldn't stand myself being paralyzed from the waist down to my toes, couldn't see myself finishing the next portion of my life in a wheelchair and neither could I envision living in a house any longer. I was at probably the lowest point in my life. <br>The four EMS that came are my heroes because they first asked me if I didn't mind them taking me away from a warm bed. That took me out of my misery for a moment to actually ask myself the same question. Before I knew it, they were lowering me down the carpeted, shallow steps of the steep staircase, around the tight corner and into the narrow hallway that I'd come to acknowledge some young, inexperienced architect who had probably had too many martinis had designed (and don't think I didn't hear the repressed groans of the four of them on that score when they tried to make themselves as thin as possible) before finally breaking free to breathe normally and to put me supine on their stretcher outside. <br>I don't know if I could have survived the ride to the hospital if they hadn't been with me. They kept my mind busy on other subjects during the ride. And I tried to stay conzingnant enough to answer them in like. Not an easy task when pain shot from one end of my lower back to my head! One of them was a transfer student and he held my hand at one point in reassurance and told me that things could only go up from now on. <br>Finally in the ER, Triage deemed it was too harsh to let me use a wheelchair, especially since the supervisor (I think), whose arms tucked me close to his smelly cigarette smoked chest invaded my nostrils, had caused me to start coughing and choking sending waves of agony everwhere! Finally everyone decided I'd be better off lying out flat under supervision. Back I went on the stretcher. <br>When one crew left, another took over, keeping me from rolling off the narrow pad or catching some thingamabob that would collapse the stretcher to the floor! <br>It's been 2 years now since surgery and I am back walking on my own two feet once more. I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for their encouragement, caring and professionalism. <br>To you all who tuck your emotions behind jovial facades, who smile when your mind and gut tell you that the vic you're transporting isn't going to live for another minute but do so to reassure him, who holds back his or her tears when you realize the baby in the back seat wasn't buckled in properly and died because of the driver being in too much of a hurry to check twice, who runs behind the rig to hide from his peers to let go of the tears bottled up inside.... to all of you, my heroes, I thank you. <br>May your shifts bring you satisfaction of knowing that you are where you are meant to be; <br>May you look to see that rainbow to cheer your saddened heart;<br>May the sun shine once more knowing that there is someone who appreciates all you do and how you do it;<br>And may you always know that there are kind people who thank you silently in their hearts because you've helped make their day easier to bear. 3 and a half years ago I backed into a parking post. You know the ones… metal tube filled with concrete. Seems I wasn't the first one, as the post already was at a 45 degree angle and hidden in a blind spot. Thing is, I mistook the accelerator for the brake pedal.
2 weeks later I woke to find my left side completely numb, no feeling whatsoever. My family physician said that he'd see me in his office that day and to 'come on down!'. Unfortunately, a herniated L4, L5 isn't something you want to live through.
The four EMS that came to pick me up (literally) must have been surprised to find that they needed to carry me down first.
I don't know how anyone can do the job you do. To me, you are, every last one, heroes. My eyes were streaming with tears, I hadn't slept more than five minutes at a time for the past five days, couldn't stand myself being paralyzed from the waist down to my toes, couldn't see myself finishing the next portion of my life in a wheelchair and neither could I envision living in a house any longer. I was at probably the lowest point in my life.
The four EMS that came are my heroes because they first asked me if I didn't mind them taking me away from a warm bed. That took me out of my misery for a moment to actually ask myself the same question. Before I knew it, they were lowering me down the carpeted, shallow steps of the steep staircase, around the tight corner and into the narrow hallway that I'd come to acknowledge some young, inexperienced architect who had probably had too many martinis had designed (and don't think I didn't hear the repressed groans of the four of them on that score when they tried to make themselves as thin as possible) before finally breaking free to breathe normally and to put me supine on their stretcher outside.
I don't know if I could have survived the ride to the hospital if they hadn't been with me. They kept my mind busy on other subjects during the ride. And I tried to stay conzingnant enough to answer them in like. Not an easy task when pain shot from one end of my lower back to my head! One of them was a transfer student and he held my hand at one point in reassurance and told me that things could only go up from now on.
Finally in the ER, Triage deemed it was too harsh to let me use a wheelchair, especially since the supervisor (I think), whose arms tucked me close to his smelly cigarette smoked chest invaded my nostrils, had caused me to start coughing and choking sending waves of agony everwhere! Finally everyone decided I'd be better off lying out flat under supervision. Back I went on the stretcher.
When one crew left, another took over, keeping me from rolling off the narrow pad or catching some thingamabob that would collapse the stretcher to the floor!
It's been 2 years now since surgery and I am back walking on my own two feet once more. I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for their encouragement, caring and professionalism.
To you all who tuck your emotions behind jovial facades, who smile when your mind and gut tell you that the vic you're transporting isn't going to live for another minute but do so to reassure him, who holds back his or her tears when you realize the baby in the back seat wasn't buckled in properly and died because of the driver being in too much of a hurry to check twice, who runs behind the rig to hide from his peers to let go of the tears bottled up inside…. to all of you, my heroes, I thank you.
May your shifts bring you satisfaction of knowing that you are where you are meant to be;
May you look to see that rainbow to cheer your saddened heart;
May the sun shine once more knowing that there is someone who appreciates all you do and how you do it;
And may you always know that there are kind people who thank you silently in their hearts because you've helped make their day easier to bear.

]]> By: Foretsz http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-19979 Foretsz Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:59:29 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-19979 3 and a half years ago I backed into a parking post. You know the ones... metal tube filled with concrete. Seems I wasn't the first one, as the post already was at a 45 degree angle and hidden in a blind spot. Thing is, I mistook the accelerator for the brake pedal. <br>2 weeks later I woke to find my left side completely numb, no feeling whatsoever. My family physician said that he'd see me in his office that day and to 'come on down!'. Unfortunately, a herniated L4, L5 isn't something you want to live through. <br>The four EMS that came to pick me up (literally) must have been surprised to find that they needed to carry me down first. <br>I don't know how anyone can do the job you do. To me, you are, every last one, heroes. My eyes were streaming with tears, I hadn't slept more than five minutes at a time for the past five days, couldn't stand myself being paralyzed from the waist down to my toes, couldn't see myself finishing the next portion of my life in a wheelchair and neither could I envision living in a house any longer. I was at probably the lowest point in my life. <br>The four EMS that came are my heroes because they first asked me if I didn't mind them taking me away from a warm bed. That took me out of my misery for a moment to actually ask myself the same question. Before I knew it, they were lowering me down the carpeted, shallow steps of the steep staircase, around the tight corner and into the narrow hallway that I'd come to acknowledge some young, inexperienced architect who had probably had too many martinis had designed (and don't think I didn't hear the repressed groans of the four of them on that score when they tried to make themselves as thin as possible) before finally breaking free to breathe normally and to put me supine on their stretcher outside. <br>I don't know if I could have survived the ride to the hospital if they hadn't been with me. They kept my mind busy on other subjects during the ride. And I tried to stay conzingnant enough to answer them in like. Not an easy task when pain shot from one end of my lower back to my head! One of them was a transfer student and he held my hand at one point in reassurance and told me that things could only go up from now on. <br>Finally in the ER, Triage deemed it was too harsh to let me use a wheelchair, especially since the supervisor (I think), whose arms tucked me close to his smelly cigarette smoked chest invaded my nostrils, had caused me to start coughing and choking sending waves of agony everwhere! Finally everyone decided I'd be better off lying out flat under supervision. Back I went on the stretcher. <br>When one crew left, another took over, keeping me from rolling off the narrow pad or catching some thingamabob that would collapse the stretcher to the floor! <br>It's been 2 years now since surgery and I am back walking on my own two feet once more. I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for their encouragement, caring and professionalism. <br>To you all who tuck your emotions behind jovial facades, who smile when your mind and gut tell you that the vic you're transporting isn't going to live for another minute but do so to reassure him, who holds back his or her tears when you realize the baby in the back seat wasn't buckled in properly and died because of the driver being in too much of a hurry to check twice, who runs behind the rig to hide from his peers to let go of the tears bottled up inside.... to all of you, my heroes, I thank you. <br>May your shifts bring you satisfaction of knowing that you are where you are meant to be; <br>May you look to see that rainbow to cheer your saddened heart;<br>May the sun shine once more knowing that there is someone who appreciates all you do and how you do it;<br>And may you always know that there are kind people who thank you silently in their hearts because you've helped make their day easier to bear. 3 and a half years ago I backed into a parking post. You know the ones… metal tube filled with concrete. Seems I wasn't the first one, as the post already was at a 45 degree angle and hidden in a blind spot. Thing is, I mistook the accelerator for the brake pedal.
2 weeks later I woke to find my left side completely numb, no feeling whatsoever. My family physician said that he'd see me in his office that day and to 'come on down!'. Unfortunately, a herniated L4, L5 isn't something you want to live through.
The four EMS that came to pick me up (literally) must have been surprised to find that they needed to carry me down first.
I don't know how anyone can do the job you do. To me, you are, every last one, heroes. My eyes were streaming with tears, I hadn't slept more than five minutes at a time for the past five days, couldn't stand myself being paralyzed from the waist down to my toes, couldn't see myself finishing the next portion of my life in a wheelchair and neither could I envision living in a house any longer. I was at probably the lowest point in my life.
The four EMS that came are my heroes because they first asked me if I didn't mind them taking me away from a warm bed. That took me out of my misery for a moment to actually ask myself the same question. Before I knew it, they were lowering me down the carpeted, shallow steps of the steep staircase, around the tight corner and into the narrow hallway that I'd come to acknowledge some young, inexperienced architect who had probably had too many martinis had designed (and don't think I didn't hear the repressed groans of the four of them on that score when they tried to make themselves as thin as possible) before finally breaking free to breathe normally and to put me supine on their stretcher outside.
I don't know if I could have survived the ride to the hospital if they hadn't been with me. They kept my mind busy on other subjects during the ride. And I tried to stay conzingnant enough to answer them in like. Not an easy task when pain shot from one end of my lower back to my head! One of them was a transfer student and he held my hand at one point in reassurance and told me that things could only go up from now on.
Finally in the ER, Triage deemed it was too harsh to let me use a wheelchair, especially since the supervisor (I think), whose arms tucked me close to his smelly cigarette smoked chest invaded my nostrils, had caused me to start coughing and choking sending waves of agony everwhere! Finally everyone decided I'd be better off lying out flat under supervision. Back I went on the stretcher.
When one crew left, another took over, keeping me from rolling off the narrow pad or catching some thingamabob that would collapse the stretcher to the floor!
It's been 2 years now since surgery and I am back walking on my own two feet once more. I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for their encouragement, caring and professionalism.
To you all who tuck your emotions behind jovial facades, who smile when your mind and gut tell you that the vic you're transporting isn't going to live for another minute but do so to reassure him, who holds back his or her tears when you realize the baby in the back seat wasn't buckled in properly and died because of the driver being in too much of a hurry to check twice, who runs behind the rig to hide from his peers to let go of the tears bottled up inside…. to all of you, my heroes, I thank you.
May your shifts bring you satisfaction of knowing that you are where you are meant to be;
May you look to see that rainbow to cheer your saddened heart;
May the sun shine once more knowing that there is someone who appreciates all you do and how you do it;
And may you always know that there are kind people who thank you silently in their hearts because you've helped make their day easier to bear.

]]> By: tbair http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-19796 tbair Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:34:28 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-19796 The hero is very heartwarming. This is a very moving story. The hero is very heartwarming. This is a very moving story.

]]> By: Transport Jockey http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-850 Transport Jockey Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:10:46 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-850 I've read this post before and it never ceases to make me have a blurry monitor by the end of it.<br /><br />Calls like this are one of the reasons that I will never knock the time I spent doing IFT calls. I have felt like I made more of a difference in peoples lives doing that than 911 so far. I've read this post before and it never ceases to make me have a blurry monitor by the end of it.

Calls like this are one of the reasons that I will never knock the time I spent doing IFT calls. I have felt like I made more of a difference in peoples lives doing that than 911 so far.

]]> By: The Keeper Of Odd Knowledge (KOOK) http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-849 The Keeper Of Odd Knowledge (KOOK) Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:24:59 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-849 Well you are like 5 for 5. I hope you are happy. 32 yr old Safety Engineer, general cynic, logical reasonable thinker. I have been told I am unemotional. Crying like a little girl. It is unseemly I tell you. Well you are like 5 for 5. I hope you are happy. 32 yr old Safety Engineer, general cynic, logical reasonable thinker. I have been told I am unemotional. Crying like a little girl. It is unseemly I tell you.

]]> By: medikkev http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-848 medikkev Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:54:58 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-848 Wow. Been there too. You meet some of the most unlikely people in our work, sometimes turning the most mundane transfer into a myriad of discussions after you learn about your patient. In my 20 years as a medic, (starting my 21st) I have done this many many times. There are some interesting people out there, and not just the 3 am diahreah. You rock. Med Wow. Been there too. You meet some of the most unlikely people in our work, sometimes turning the most mundane transfer into a myriad of discussions after you learn about your patient. In my 20 years as a medic, (starting my 21st) I have done this many many times. There are some interesting people out there, and not just the 3 am diahreah. You rock. Med

]]> By: Pombagira http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-846 Pombagira Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:21:00 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-846 gosh my monitor got all blurry by the end of that story to...</></>*smiles* gosh my monitor got all blurry by the end of that story to…*smiles*

]]> By: Anonymous http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-843 Anonymous Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:14:00 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-843 After reading this I see why I am a paramedic and yes my monitor got all blurry too...dam computer virri!</>Scott McConnell, RN, NREMT-P, FP-C</>Phila., PA After reading this I see why I am a paramedic and yes my monitor got all blurry too…dam computer virri!Scott McConnell, RN, NREMT-P, FP-CPhila., PA

]]> By: Anonymous http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-847 Anonymous Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:14:00 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-847 After reading this I see why I am a paramedic and yes my monitor got all blurry too...dam computer virri!</>Scott McConnell, RN, NREMT-P, FP-C</>Phila., PA After reading this I see why I am a paramedic and yes my monitor got all blurry too…dam computer virri!Scott McConnell, RN, NREMT-P, FP-CPhila., PA

]]> By: Manda Renee http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2007/04/an-unlikely-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-842 Manda Renee Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:49:00 +0000 http://ambulancedriverfiles.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/an-unlikely-hero#comment-842 I so needed to read this today - specifically today. Thank you for showing me I'm not the only one. ~M I so needed to read this today – specifically today. Thank you for showing me I’m not the only one. ~M

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