| David Jewel 2004-12-20, 7:09 am |
| Being that its self serving but not in bad way. I just wanted to announce to
all I knew from friends originally with Fair Oaks VFD where I got started
to, Callands Fire rescue in Pittsylvania County VA, Dale City where I flat
ran my butt off between medic and Ambulance duty and lastly to Orange County
Rescue Squad in Orange VA, This is so hard for me because Fire/EMS has been
in my heart and soul serving my community wherever I lived.. It didn't
matter to me if it was somebody who felt a little ill at 3am or that full
blown CPR that somehow we got back at least long enough for his family to
say good bye. I've been down in NC now for nearly 2 yrs now and always
planned to come back to VA and hoped to run again (my EMT had expired in 03
and kept trying to figure out with my work schedule as a CNA I how I could
get it all worked out. To make a long story short I suffered one back injury
on 23rd of Nov trying to keep a client from falling who ultimately broke his
hip it took myself and 3 EMS workers to get him loaded so Dr gave me the
week off and said go back Monday but be reasonable. Well due to lack of
information from my agency contact (in EMS ya call them dispatchers) I ended
up with a situation where e client was total bed ridden no lifting
assistance available no Hoyer no nothing and his care plan demands he be up
in his wheelchair at least 2+hrs a day plus any trips to the bathroom. By
the time I was 2 hrs from shift ending I had called and told them I couldn't
come back out here. I needed up back at my DR 2 days later and he had dbled
my pain meds to 10-20mg vicodan QID, Zanaflex 4-8mg TID, Naproxen 500mg TID
(nearly useless if ya ask me) and last but not least 15-20ng of valium at
night to help sleep and also due to him maxing my dosage on zanaflex. On top
of that I am a Type II diabetic and the pain control has caused major sugar
issues to boot. I'm out until further notice and have yet to receive any
workers comp checks (med bills and Rx paid at least). The possibility of
surgery has been mentioned which could result in surgery not only on my
lower back but possibly on fusion of T12-L1 due to it causing pain and
weakness into my neck and down my arms. The real reality is while I can hope
and pray I will still be able to care for the sick and injured once I get
out of RN school and eventually NP school my long term goal. It's a good
possibility and a sad one to me as well to admit that baring a miracle my
EMS career is over. I remember somebody once telling me that the burnout
rate was so high its what ended careers not in my case wasn't even a case of
bad lifting was just bad luck I guess. Now I'm not one to beg and such and
believe me if there's anyway I can repay folks for their kindness I will do
so but my wife is working reduced hours some to be able to help me as I can
not shower and do stuff on my own and workers comp is taking their own sweet
time in reimbursing me for all my lost wages,and we have no emergency
savings to speak of. Heck it isn't much I mean heck 2/3s of 320 a week which
was all I was making roughly (the lack of OT Pay is a story for a different
time). I've turned to social services down here and haven't heard anything.
I've already asked for and gotten what help I can from family so I'm asking
for any little bit of help from my brothers and sisters out there (yall don't
know how hard this is for me I never thought Id be in a position where Id
have to literally beg for help from people I'm used to being the one
helping). Any little bit will help We have a 100+ elec bill and phone
already past due of nearly 40 which leaves 30 out of my wife's check right
before xmas. I had set aside money for her for a present and ended up having
to buy groceries with it so here it is our 1st Xmas and I cant even afford
to buy her anything... Anyway... Please any help would be appreciated. You
can send donations one of 2 following ways
Through paypal to djewel6@msn.com or checks/cash to David Jewel relief
fund
C/O Gail Jewel (that's my mom)
PO BOX 841
Sterling VA 20167
She will make sure any monies obtained she can get to me transferred to my
paypal acct from her bank acct
I thank all of you ahead of time. God Bless and Merry Xmas.
David S Jewel
B120615305 (expired 6/30/03)
ACLS/PALS Certified through 06/05 (Had been working on National Registry
EMT-I and eventualy Paramedic)
|