Trial Under Fire--for Real!!!

[gadgetman]

I have survived my first real test since my OHS and the addition of my AICD. As some of you may recall, I?ve been a volunteer firefighter for over ten years. Although I?ve been to several fires since OHS, I?ve been reluctant to actually enter a structure. I was not sure what my ?refurbished? heart and AICD might do once I was in such an extremely stressful situation. I did not want to become a liability while under those conditions, possibly putting fellow firefighters at risk.

Well, this past Saturday I participated and successfully completed my first Live Fire Drill since OHS. Talk about a ?test by FIRE?. Paid Fire Departments usually have a ?burn structure? where fires can be started and observed under controlled conditions. Volunteer departments usually rely on a donated structure where we can play. We start a fire inside the structure and observe its behavior. Although it is under controlled conditions, the fire is real. It gets hot. It can be dangerous. You get to face first hand what you can expect under real life conditions. I MADE IT. My heart (and my AICD) behaved very well under these conditions. Believe me it got HOT. When you come out you can?t touch your helmet or the rest of your gear with your bare hand. They are that HOT. I went in with some reservations about how my heart would react, especially my trusty AICD. I didn?t know how my heart would react to this stressful situation. You don?t just SIT and watch the fire build, each firefighter is required to perform just like it was a real fire situation. Each one of us had to crawl into the house dragging a fire hose while wearing about 40 to 50 pounds of safety gear, locate the fire source, then properly put the fire out. I passed. Even better it renewed my confidence in my own ability to perform fully as a firefighter.

I truly consider myself one of the lucky ones. By December of last year I was well on my way to not being able to fully enjoy life. Survival was even a question. My OHS surgery gave me a new lease on life and I thank God daily for that. I also thank and pray for my ValveReplacement.com family for all they provided while I started my walk through this ?experience?. I hope I am able to repay in kind all the help, guidance, suggestions, humor, shared experiences and sometimes just an ear (or EYE) that I?ve been fortunate to receive here.

MUSHY BUTTON OFF.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and,

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[WendyD]

Wonderful News!!!

Wonderful News!!!

Thats just fantastic news !!!
Well done !! Its so great to read a success story like yours ,
All the very best
Wendy

 

[mntbiker]

Congratulations Danny!

What a great story, and thanks for volunteering your time and effort.

 

[Cris N]

Danny,
Congratulations! I'm sure that you are a bit relieved that things worked the way they did. How fortunate that you had a test environment in which to check this all out. Quite a confidence builder I'll bet. Thanks so much for sharing.

Cris

 

[PJmomrunner]

Congrats to you, Danny! Far more than mush, what you really convey loud and clear is exhilaration!

 

[Wise]

I hope I am able to repay in kind all the help, guidance, suggestions, humor, shared experiences and sometimes just an ear (or EYE) that I’ve been fortunate to receive here.

Friend, in my observation, you've been doing just that.

Take care and wishes for continued firefighting success. Congratulations!

Wise

 

[Phyllis]

Congratulations- and THANKS for what you do!!

 

[Karlynn]

Congratulations Danny!

 

[Mary]

Great going Danny!

I'm so glad your valve and AICD performed as promised.

Now I don't have to worry about when we finally meet, and I pay you back for a few of your classic posts (made at my expense!)

Don't forget: I've got my eye on you!

 

[Ross]

Congratulations tough man, but I'm jealous.

 

[RandyL]

Nicely Done! Good for you. It is great to hear people like your self are back to normal life 1 year later.

 

[Mary]

Nicely Done! Good for you. It is great to hear people like your self are back to normal life 1 year later.

Danny,
Did I just read this? "It is great to hear people like your self are back to normal?"


Ha, Ha, Ha!
He, He, He!
That's Too Funny!

Your VR buddy,
Abe Normal

 

[momshell7]

Congratulations Danny!


I bet it felt so good to be able to go in there and do what you love!! I am happy you were able to do it. I guess maybe that is an early Christmas present for you!!

Best of Luck!


Michelle

 

[catwoman]

Danny:

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It isn't easy being a firefighter -- whether a paid or volunteer one.

(My nephew-in-law is a captain with the Frisco fire dept. in the Dallas TX area, and his dad is a chief with the Plano TX fire dept.)

 

[gadgetman]

Danny,
Did I just read this? "It is great to hear people like your self are back to normal?"

Give Randy a break. It takes at least 100 posts to GET TO KNOW ME!!!!

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments. It made me feel good to know I can still PERFORM (Careful Mary, PG Channel!!!!! ) and not be a danger to myself or others. Heart problems are the number one killer of firefighters. In 2004 (I don't have the figures right in front of me) about 30 full time and around 60 volunteers died due to heart related matters.

Marsha,

Good to see you've got firefighters in the family. Firefighters, just like law enforcement folks, tend to be ignored except when you need them.

And MARY,

You ain't a gonna sneak up on ME. I sleep with ONE eye open too.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[Marguerite53]

I dunno, Danny, that cat looks pretty sleepy to me!! (looks easy, Mary. Go for it!!)

Hey! Danny. You are wonderful!! And so brave, doubly so -- brave to go in with your "new" heart and brave just to want to go in to a burning building at all!!

You help to put it all in perspective for us. Especially those of us who are waiting around here. There are so many levels of fear and bravery. There are men and women battling scores of uncertain, violent, hostile things out there, not the least of whom are our people in the armed services. With that in mind, how can I possibly be afraid of a known professional doing a heart job on me that he/she's done hundreds of times in a controlled and perfect environment?

So thanks for sharing that story with us! And PLEASE! Be careful out there!

Marguerite

 

[gadgetman]

You help to put it all in perspective for us. Especially those of us who are waiting around here. There are so many levels of fear and bravery. There are men and women battling scores of uncertain, violent, hostile things out there, not the least of whom are our people in the armed services. With that in mind, how can I possibly be afraid of a known professional doing a heart job on me that he/she's done hundreds of times in a controlled and perfect environment? Marguerite

I think you put the right spin on how we should look at the challenges we face day to day. When I first started this walk, climb, swim or whatever I was doing a lot of "why me" whining. Once I logged on here and found so many folks that have faced this before me (and some a lot worse) and survived, I quickly realized I should look at things a little different. It didn't hurt having the good Lord watching over me and making sure the RIGHT surgeon went in there and "refurbished" His original equipment.

Now get on in there and get your challenges "behind" you.

By the way, Mary don't scare me none. Bring it on.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[perkicar]

Reading your post made ME feel good, so I can imagine how exhilarated you must feel! You should e-mail your Dr and let him know too--I know how much we (as nurses) appreciate seeing the patients who have done well. I work on a Bone Marrow Transplant unit so we have our share of ups and downs . But it sure makes our day to hear about the patients who are out there doing well and better yet, to get to see them if they stop by the unit. Many of them are with us for weeks, even months, so we get to really know them and their families.

Carolyn

 

[Granbonny]

Thanks ..Danny

Thanks ..Danny

for what you are doing...I live in a very rural area...Our Volunteer firefighters live down the road...about 2 miles from us..in an old cannery...where Southern folks brought their veggies in during the summer...Thank goodness with many Bar-be-que, ect..we are able to get them a new station. ..Many elderly people live up here.and the nearest other station is 10 miles away.....Our gated community have volunteer members who will be called and met at Gate..to bring them to a 911 call..Very hard to find their homes..due to winding roads, ect..dark out conditions, ect....Hubby heard an ambulance in distance a few nights ago..the backing out sound. Pray, they were O.K.Thanks to all Volunteer fireman..Bonnie

 

[Glenda]

Danny, this is wonderful news. Congratulations. It's wonderful that you are doing so well. My prayers go up every time I hear our small community firetruck go out. I know that it's only by the grace of God and all the volunteers that they can be successful. They are such brave men and women. I can't even imagine going into a burning building. Keep up the good work.