Thursday, April 18, 2013

Reflections on West and NSVs

Good morning my dears... I'm writing to you with a very heavy heart this morning. The West, Texas fertilizer plant tragedy hit a little too close to home. Knowing that among the missing are First Responders makes me a tad weepy. You may think I'm crazy for this, so let me tell my story...



I've never talked about it much on here, but I'm a first responder. I volunteer with the fire department in my hometown. I'm an EMT/Firefighter. I volunteer to give back to the town that's given me so much. I volunteer for those who can't. I don't do it for the money, the ego stroking, or to be a hero. I do it because I can and I know that there are people who can't. I'm not an attention whore and really it's a little uncomfortable to talk about. I don't view myself as a hero. I never have. It's just something that has to be done...



I haven't been very active in the department lately due to my job and lots of pissant political bullshit going on within the department. I will say though, some of the most humbling and satisfying moments of my adult life have taken place on the scene of an EMS or Fire call. One of them I want to share involves a little girl that used to attend the school that I worked at. She has a heart issue that sometimes makes her heart race. She usually gets really scared and cries. One night I was called to her house... She recognized me from school and would not let anyone else touch her until the ambulance crew got there... Then she asked me (not her mom or any family, but me) to carry her to the ambulance. I can say that when I arrived her heart was racing along around 180 beats per minute. When I put her in the ambulance, the breathing exercises that she and I did together, along with my soothing and the oxygen lowered her heart rate to about 100 bpm. Still not great, but a major improvement.

It still touches my heart that the little girl wanted me to carry her... Not her mom or anyone else... Me... I don't claim to be a hero... I'm no hero.. I help people because I can... I have the physical and mental capability, why waste it?

I struggled a lot last night with my desire to hop in the car and drive to West. I wanted to go help. I didn't. I regret it. I should have gone as soon as I heard about the explosion. Now they are asking that people not come. They are innundated with volunteers. This warms my heart, knowing that so many answered the call to help. I did give blood yesterday, so hopefully my O Positive will go to someone that needs it.

Texans are a resiliant people. We will recover, but we will never forget.

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I guess for this week's NSVs, I'm going to go with the fact that I'm slowly climbing back into healthy eating after my vacation. I've been the suck at tracking lately, but it's happening. Slowly but surely. I'm still going out and exercising, but tracking is waning. Probably not a good thing, but I'm not in much of a mood to beat myself up about it.

16 comments:

  1. Thank you for your prayers and kind words. I shall offer you the same!
    Love you,
    Regine

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  2. Sammie--What a wonderful, wonderful story. What a great job you do giving back. I love it! In just sharing conversations on our blogs, I know that your compassion and kindness has touched so many. I cannot imagine the war-zone scene that must be continuing to unfold in West. What a tragedy. I thank you for what you do and because you do it because you can.
    Cheers to you, friend!
    Laurie
    Lulu and Daisy

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    1. Thanks Laurie :) I really appreciate your kind words. I only do what I feel is right. I'm a care taker by nature I suppose :)

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  3. Thanks for sharing your story. so sweet. Have a great week and good job getting back on track...that can be so hard.

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    1. Thanks :) It's slowly but surely happening.. I just have to get back into my routine.

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  4. I found your blog on the non-scale victories linkup. I think that little girl might call you a hero even if you don't think you are one yet!

    Ashley @ http://downsizingashley.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks Ashley. That means a lot to me :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. You're so awesome! You were that little girl's hero for sure!

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    1. I just hope that she remembers to pay it forward when she's older. Let the circle of kindness be unbroken.

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  6. You are a hero! Anyone who gives their time to their community is a hero in my book. That's what makes America so great! I've been wondering about you. I knew you just returned from Galveston so I thought you may be from around that area. Glad you are safe!

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    1. Thanks Hollie! I'm safe. West is about an hour and a half north of me. We drive through on our way to Dallas..

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  7. I agree with the other commenters, you are a hero. This was a great post, thank you so much for sharing!

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    1. Thanks Katie. I appreciate the kind words... Like I said.. I don't do it for the ego stroking.. Just want to give kindness.

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  8. I found you through non scale victories!! Wow you have such an amazing heart!! That's so awesome that you volunteer for the fire department for the fact that you are ABLE to!!!! My boyfriend is a volunteer firefighter as well!
    Dani!
    www.thatfitnesschic.blogspot.com

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    1. Welcome to my little slice of paradise! I'm glad you stopped by :) I come from a family of volunteers. Both my mom and my dad are members in the VFD with me. It's a family tradition :)

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