All worth it!

Often times when running EMS in a small town you run into people that you know, and while this can be great because you already know your patient it can also create many other emotions as well. It is always hard to come across a situation where despite your best efforts you are not able to save the person, but when it is a friend or neighbor it can make things extremely difficult. Also, believe it or not it can also be quite awkward in some situations to arrive on scene and find that the person in distress is someone that you are acquainted with. However, one the most rewarding things in running EMS in a small town is when you walk into a person's home and have them look up at you and say, "Oh I am so happy to see you!" In my career as an Emergency Medical Technician this has happened to me many times. The time that sticks out in my mind the most was a call that Eric and I ran last year. We responded to a call and it turned out to be a woman that I had met before, but that her children were personal friends of ours. When I walked in the house I picked up the sense that everyone was really scarred. I talked to them and tried to comfort them as best I could while still providing the medical care to my patient. As we prepared to leave I turned to the family and even though it did not look good assured them that I would do my best to take care of there mother/grandmother. Despite all Eric's and my efforts the lady passed away soon after we got to the hospital. I stuck around the hospital long enough to explain to the family what had happened and to try to provide some support. Later in the week  Eric and I went to the funeral where I was hugged by the family and told how very much they appreciated what we had done for there mother that night and how it had put them at ease knowing she was with someone that they already knew that they trusted. The next week I even got a hand written letter which expressed how much everyone in the family appreciated the fact that I was willing to give my time to help their family when they needed it most. This kind of thing is what makes all the getting up in the middle of the night, the skipping meals, and the mental and physical exhaustion all worth it!