Today, I learned that the county that I worked for in the States lost one of its own today. One of the police officers died while trying to help extricate someone from a car.
It stings, even 5000 miles from home. It means something because someone who understands public service has a different view of what it means to be the 911 responders. We see the other side of officers that most people never have the privilege of seeing. We wear different uniforms, but we serve the same people. Our paychecks are signed by different places, but there is a brotherhood that can never be understood fully until you are a part of it. And even if you leave it, it is forever a part of you.
You might see us in a restaurant, or see us getting coffee, but often those times are interrupted. Hopefully, you can get your food before you leave. Every meal, I ate out at work was ordered to go. Often, meals don’t happen nearly when the rest of the community eats them. We work weekends, nights, and holidays. We sacrifice our families because we believe that what we do actually matters. And it does.
When you get into a public servant position (think fireman, police officer, paramedic, and others), you realize that you don’t sign up for a job. You don’t sign up to decide what people you would serve that day. You don’t get to choose if you respond to a call or not. If someone needs you, you go. It doesn’t matter if its three am, or you just finished your last call, or if its time for you to go home; if someone needs you, you answer. That one call could be the call that takes your life away from you. That could be the last morning that you get out of the bed and put on the uniform that you love to hate.
I think we forget the incredible honor it is to serve our community. Coming on the race, its one of the things I miss the most. I miss the chance to meet people in their time of need, do what you are trained to do, and get them to the proper care that they need. I truly do miss EMS; there is a part of my heart that will always love to go back to the States to take care of people. I love to watch my brothers and sisters who serve every third day from afar; I love to see their jokes with each other and their laughter. I love to know that I will forever be a part of the EMS family, whether I am living in Santiago, Chile, or in the great State of Alabama.
Today, we are one.
Until He Comes,
Kristy
To my St. Clair County EMS/Fire Family (particularly PCFD and PCPD): Prayers are headed your way from Santiago. I hate that I can’t be there to help, and just to be a listening ear. Please know that I am just a FaceTime away if you need me. I am so proud of you, and pray for you often. Thank you for what you do; it is an incredible honor to know each of you.
To the Family of Lt: I am so sorry for your loss. I pray these words are a comfort to you in your time of need. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice; please know that it is not unnoticed. How often you gave up a normal life to serve your community. You don’t put the uniform on every day, but you serve as well. You are in my prayers.
