As we get older, we find ourselves saying that we can’t do some of the things we could do when we were younger because the body won’t let us.
Younger firefighters who haven’t yet challenged themselves aren’t sure if they can get their bodies to do what this job sometimes requires it to do.
Others simply choose not to for their own, personal reasons. These are usually the ones who had no idea of the mental and physical toll that fire/rescue can have on you. They will get out early.
But my article is about something else. It is about those who unexpectedly find themselves stricken with a medical condition that robs them of a normal existence in our very chaotic world.
A good friend of mine has a firefighter who is battling cancer with the help of an entire nation’s fire community. Davey and his department are making certain that this battle will be fought with the support of his brothers and sisters.
A little over a year ago, Bob Juarez of the Davenport, IA FD fell twenty feet from a ladder at the scene of a working fire and is now paralyzed from the waist down. The outpouring of support has been phenomenal. Bob is now working in Administration for the fire department.
I have a story about one of our members.
Matt was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) towards the end of 2004. With this type of MS, there are no periods of remission. It is also characterized by gradual progression. There may be periods of leveling off of disease activity and there will be good/bad days. This type also attacks the spinal cord but will migrate to the brain. Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis affects 10 to 15 percent of all MS patients.
I was chief of department when Matt got on in 1995. He came to us from another department, so I asked that chief about Matt. He told me that Matt was a real “cowboy” and to keep an eye on him.
Well, I kept an eye on Matt and what I saw was someone totally committed to our cause, someone who would hump hose, overhaul and clean up when we got back into quarters. He helped out at every fundraiser that we held. He made all of the meetings and was in the top ten for training hours every year. We took a couple of road trips together and if you didn’t know how to take him, you might think that he was opinionated. He was one of our work horses.
That’s why it is so emotional for me to see how this disease is taking that away from him. His motor skills have rapidly disappeared. It was very subtle in the beginning; almost undetectable. He would get up from sitting and would have to steady himself before walking. He would often walk near a wall or objects to steady himself as he walked. The tremors that now shake his body were small ones in the beginning. They resembled muscle “spasms”, so there was little concern in the beginning. He takes many medications, when the state authorizes the prescriptions and we all know how frustrating that can be.
From there, Matt had to use a cane and then a walker.
Now; Matt has an electric wheelchair. He is pretty much homebound in bad weather, but will get out in good weather and travel about town in his wheelchair.
Last year, some of the guys from the fire department went to his house and built him a wheelchair ramp.
Matt is not married and lives with his two little dogs, Billy and Darla.
To insure that Matt gets at least one, nutritional meal a day, several members of the department are on a monthly calendar to take him a meal. This also allows Matt to receive visitors to keep in touch on a social level. I am proud to say that the younger firefighters are participating as well as the ones who have been with Matt since he got on the department.
We participate in a firefighter golf outing every year and Matt is taken as a member of the chief’s team. Matt might get to hit a ball or two, but he will mostly just ride along and enjoy the day and the camaraderie of the many firefighters.
I know that it is killing him that he can’t be more active, but he is going to remain with us, because the support is what he needs.
In February, 2006, we staged a benefit for Matt; not so much to raise money, though he needed it, but more to let him know that we love him, support him and will be with him always. He loves being a firefighter and in my mind, he always will be.
I sent out a request via the Internet to the fire community and asked for patches and notes of encouragement. The response was overwhelming. I had my sister make a quilt for him from the 200 plus patches that we received. A picture of the quilt is on my home page at FFN.
On the day of the benefit, I had firefighters come from as far away as Canada, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana and all over Illinois. It was amazing. THAT is brotherhood!
I know that we have held discussions about unproductive members. I know that many of us have definite opinions about some who will not rise to their potential and meet expectations, though they do not suffer from a debilitating disease and only suffer from laziness, a lack of motivation or indifference.
But, what would you do if you had to live as Matt does, knowing the mind won’t let your body do what you want it to do anymore? To never know when the tremors will come, the muscles will let go and to wake up and not know if it will be a “good” day or a bad one?
And all the while wanting to turn the clock back to a day when you could ride the truck, grab a hose, cut a top off of a car, play a round of golf with the guys and just be “normal” again.
When you have been given God’s gift of good health and an opportunity to serve your community, why would you want to waste it on things that leave you empty in the end? Why would you want to miss your calling?
Matt is still on our department and when he is feeling good, he will attend a meeting and participate in discussion. His gear still hangs on the wall.
He is a member for life.
TCSS.
Art
The article as submitted is published under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella and is the intellectual property of Art Goodrich a.k.a. xchief22 and ChiefReason. It is protected by federal copyright laws and cannot be re-printed in any form without expressed permission from the author. You may read other works by the author at www.chiefreasonart.com.
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