When we were in our second year of married life our church group was holding a CPR and first aide course. Â They were trying to get people to become CPR certified. Â At the time I was so pregnant with our daughter Kayla….like 38 weeks pregnant. Â Hubby’s parents were part of the group that was sponsoring the course and they really pushed us to go so that there would be enough people and the class would be held. Â Hubby and I both signed up. Â I only signed up with the promise that I wouldn’t have to get on the floor and work on the CPR dummies.
Once we got to the class Hubby notice that a friend of his was in the same building and was taking a class across the hall. Â His friend was attending the class for people who were interested in becoming an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). Â We attended our class but all the way home Hubby kept saying he was interested in taking the EMT classes. Â I thought it was a phase but the next day he was calling for more information. Â The decision was made, he was taking the classes. Â He put in the many hours of classes it took to be an EMT.
Hubby was nervous about the classes. Â He wasn’t scholarly, to say the least. Â I told him and told him that I knew he was smart, it was just that he never really cared about what he learning before and I was right. Â He did fine taking the classes even though he hadn’t done well in school.
Even though he could Hubby doesn’t ride in an ambulance. Â In our rural area he acts as a first responder. Â Ambulances are 20-30 minutes away and help is needed sooner than that so the first responders are called. They drop whatever they are doing and head off to help however they can.
He has been on a wide variety of calls….horrible car accidents, medical calls, abuse calls, choking calls, stroke, heart attack, attempted suicide…in the 29 years of being an EMT, he’s seen a lot. Â He’s also inspired a lot. Â Our son Buck has taken EMT classes. Â Our daughter Kalissa and now her husband Craig are both EMTs and serve the same area that Hubby does.
At any given time, they drop everything and off they go.
Monday night Craig, Kalissa and Carver were over for supper. Â In the middle of the meal of smoked pork chops, potato bake, banana bread and deviled eggs, the pager went off. Â Kalissa handed Carver to me and off the three of them went.
They left the house scrambling for coats as they went. Â This time they were indoors…this time the call ended poorly.
I never know when they leave how they’ll be when they come back. Â Did they just watch someone die? Â Did they save a life? Â Did they see something that they’ll never forget? Â Did they be a comfort for a family member? Â Sometimes they are sad. Â Sometimes they are happy. Â Sometimes they are very quiet. Â I don’t know what to expect upon their return. Â I can see that although they do the work, it can take a tole on them.
I am so thankful that they work with a great bunch of first responders. Â They are awesome and very supportive of each other. Â For the most part…I don’t worry too much about them while they are gone. Â They are surrounded by competent coworkers.
Carver and I waited for them to return…we rocked. Â I gave him a bottle. Â I’m glad I stay back. Â The fast adrenaline circumstance isn’t for me. Â I’d rather stay behind scenes taking care of the baby…cleaning the dirty dishes.
You can call it fate, or God, or whatever you want to call it, but I know Hubby was meant to take that CPR class all those years ago. Â Hubby was meant to see his friend in the class across the hall and meant to become an EMT. Â There are countless times that I know he’s made a difference. Â Twice, he gave years to the lives of some very important people to me…one time was with his mom…one time was with our daughter Kelli. Â I’ll have to tell you about those stories sometime. Â For now, I’ll say this. Â We almost lost each of them and without Hubby to be there with his medical knowledge, life would have been different as we’d have likely lost them both.
I am so thankful that Hubby is a first responder. Â Sure, left mealtimes aren’t fun but that’s not anything care about in the grand scheme of things. Â I’m happy he can go and help out as he can. Â I wouldn’t want it any other way.
So blessed there are selfless people called to help others. Them and you!
Totally nderstand! I married into a family of volunteer firemen and remember spending all day Christmas Eve fixing a big dinner for all only to have the radios go off right after we started to eat. They all ran for the door and the station. After our town started a rescue squad they all became First Responders and so many family gatherings have been interrupted over the 44 years…we expect it now! It takes a special person to step up and fill those rolls and small towns would suffer without them!
My husband was a first responder with our local volunteer department for 5 years. I always felt my job was to pray for the firefighters and whoever they came into contact with on their call. It gave me comfort to help in that way! Thank god for first responders!
My son is the Chief of a volunteer fire department and he and his wife are first responders as well, I know they have been called to some awful circumstances but they have helped many folks make it through some very trying times. Thank goodness for these selfless folks who can put their own lives on hold for the sake of others. God bless them all.
Heros!
First responders are true Heros! A big THANK YOU to those who serve others.
Many years ago when our town had a local police department, I remember how one EMT would meet the police officer with her child and he would grab the baby and take him to someone who was on call to take care of the EMT’s child. This enabled her to respond to calls in our rural area which was greatly in need of first responders. People who are afraid of being in EMS can do many things to help out. I would respond to the ambulance shed when the EMT’s came back to base and clean up and restock the rigs so the responders could go back home or back to work and the rigs would be ready for the next call. There are many ways to help out in the rural areas if one is willing to think outside of the box.
Your area is so fortunate to have responders who are willing to give of their time. We were so worried that our children resented us from missing so many of their school events because of having to go on calls, but, they told us they were happy and proud that the people in our town were able to get good fast care. Thanks for all of the volunteering your family does for your community!!! Although you never get enough thanks it is truly appreciated.
All I could think about while reading this was how fortunate the 3 of them are to have others in the family who are there to witness what is going on, and commiserate and comfort each other because they understand so well what they each are going through. I can imagine having a friend to discuss something like this with, but to me having another family member there. that just witnessed whatever horror has them upset, would be so much more comforting.
We have a Son who has been a volunteer Fire fighter / EMT for 6 years . He is now employed at a Fire Station in the community to our East with a paid position and is continuing on the volunteer department. Our son-in-law is also on the Volunteer department. Yes, meals do get interrupted but they both feel it is an important part of the community we live in. Thank you to all first responders! You are definitely appreciated.