A paramedic talks about the demands of his job and some of the heartbreaking cases he's faced during his career as a paramedic/EMT.
My name is Kendall Victor Smith. I am 30 years old, and I have been a paramedic/EMT for the city of Nashville, Tennessee, going on for nearly ten years now.
As you can probably imagine, my job is extremely demanding and stressful at times, and at times, absolutely heartbreaking. I have had people die on me when we worked so hard to try to revive them; but on the other end of the spectrum, we have saved people whom we thought were going to die; yet, by some Miracle of God, they somehow pulled through.
Among the most challenging cases we have ever experienced included a young girl of eight who had suffered a stroke on her eighth birthday (she has since recovered nicely, and today suffers from very few side effects from her stroke; in other words, she looks and acts like the normal now ten-year-old girl she is), a young boy in a wheelchair who had suffered from yet another respiratory crisis (we honestly thought that we were about to lose him the last time we had been called to his home), a young woman originally from Africa who had been brutally raped by an intruder and then had been burned (the intruder in question had set her apartment on fire, as a means to cover up his crime*), and the near-electrocution of a woman who would eventually become my wife. More challenging cases also included fatal car crashes that killed all or several members of families, drownded toddlers left unsupervised by too-busy or neglectful parents, abuse cases that involved children who were far too young to be able to defend themselves, and people suffering from mental or emotional problems.
Each case mentioned above left an indelible mark on my heart and soul, but it was also because of such events that I have become even more dedicated into serving a needy community. I have matured from a cocky young maverick into a caring professional who prides himself into helping others. I think September 11, 2001, the day our great country was savagely attacked by foreign terrorists, had a lot to do with the drastic change in my attitude. Now, more than ever, being a worker for the community has taken on a new (if not, powerful) meaning.
No, being a paramedic isn't for everyone, but it is MY job; and even though the pay is oftentimes lousy (we don't get paid what we are worth, I feel; I feel I should be making a lot more in the way of money than what I actually do in my field of work!) and the hours are unpredictable and long, it's the only job I have known for the past 9 1/2 years, and I am more than proud to be a vital and important link to the community I call home.
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*A note from Kendall:
We had also been called to the young woman's home twice since then, once for a severe bacterial infection that caused her collapse (it was later discovered in the hospital that she had the effects of necrotizing fasciitis, or "flesh-eating disease"), and another time for severe weight loss. At the time we had taken her to the hospital the second time, she weighed less than 75 pounds. She neaerly died; but somehow, she survived both traumas; and she is still alive today. How she survived both events is nothing short of a Miracle.
We need more stories about our everyday heros the Paramedics, Police Officers and Firefighters God Bless you for writing this.
In Christs Love
~Michelle~
God bless those that serve the communities...and strive to keep us healthy...powerful, moving story...i'd like to read more about kendall...((((HUGS)))) and love, karla. (paramedics, no tag bags SORry!) *grins*
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My name is Kendall Victor Smith. I am 30 years old, and I have been a paramedic/EMT for the city of Nashville, Tennessee, going on for nearly ten years now.
