Hi everyone, thought I would take an interesting twist on this one, and tell you a little bit about who is behind A Medic’s World, and since my world is your world, you should know about me right? Where to start? How about the basics:
- Male
- Age: 43
- Height 6’1″, Weight – To be determined!
- I have brown hair, and brown eyes.
- I wear size 15 Shoes
Growing up, I found myself being the middle child of 2 sisters, the double whammy, being in the middle, and being a boy. I found that I had to challenge myself to make my own world what it was, since the girls always had the sisterly thing, I am not saying there was not love and caring, but again being in the middle brought its own challenges. I found out growing up, I had some interesting roads ahead of me, I was born almost more than half blind, up until the age of maybe 4 I think, I was running into walls, the TV, kitchen cabinets, I learned to use my hearing quickly to guide myself around, before long, my hearing became like sonar, I was able to ping where the sound was coming from, and use that to guide my way some. I began to wear glasses by the age of 4, and had one of those glasses bands to help keep them on! I received some treatments to strengthen the nerves in my eyes, wore patches to help try and correct my lazy eye. (unfortunately I still have that today), but over the years, my eyes kept improving, to the point where glasses were not a requirement anymore, what a glorious day that was!
Growing up, I became addicted to books, I found that when I had all this time alone, I would read, and allot. They could not keep up with the Hardy Boys Mysteries Books fast enough! I even began to read computer books, like programming Logo and Basic long before I even had my first computer. Then it all happened middle childhood, my Red LED Texas Instruments Calculator, oh what a wonderful piece of technology it was, and back then I am sure it was in the $130-150 range, when I think back to what was given to me, the appreciation of that calculator meant the world to me, but also created the Gadget Junkie I became today as well.
During those years, I fell in love with shows like Land of the Lost, Batman, The Superfriends, and the show that helped mold me to who I was to become, Emergency, with John Gage and Roy DeSoto. This show would influence my choice to become the Paramedic I am today! I remember playing with real metal Tonka Fire Trucks and Ambulances.
Moving forward I grew more interested in computers and programing, writing my own games and programs in BASIC and LOGO, and learning how they all worked, I used to tinker with electronics, and figure out what made them work, going into high school, I became one of the goto people to learn from, for the computer classes they were teaching, even the teachers had a handful of us, that would help, it was about knowing a little bit more!
I wasn’t very popular growing up, never had that knack with the girls. Always tried, but never became more than that “Your a nice guy, but can we just be friends ” guy. I had some truer than most friends, back then. I miss them dearly today, and wish I had someone like them now, for to have that real friend, they have to like you for who you are, and for those few, they did! During High School I played on the Chess Team, wrote for the school newspaper, and assisted a couple teachers with grading.
I joined the Army out of high school, one of the best decisions I made. Not only was I earning money for College thru the G.I. Bill, I was discovering myself, and what I was capable of. I lost 42 pounds in 8 weeks during basic training, by the time I got to my training for my MOS, I was able to run 2 miles in about 14 minutes, that dropped by the time I went to Camp Page, in South Korea, my first duty assignment. From there I went to Fort Bragg, N.C., to another even that would change my life. I was going to get to star in that wonderful event we call Desert Storm/Desert Shield. Yes, folks, I have seen War, and it is not pretty. It was hot, dangerous, and I found that my limits were pushed to the max, but again, it proves that I was capable of it, and that made me the stronger person I am today.
I got out of active duty after a little over 4 years, did the national guard for almost 2, and was inactive for the last 2 of my 8 year commitment, it was an awesome experience, one I am thankful for, and gave me the money I needed for EMT and Paramedic school. I did both, have led a 20+ year career in emergency medicine, whether it be in an ambulance, in an emergency room, an urgent care, or the Intensive Care Unit.
Two events since all of this completely changed my life forever! In October of 1998, I had a 4000 pound van fall on me during a rescue (yes I said, 4000 pounds). I almost died that night, trying to rescue a young lady, but I survived that night, and the rest became interesting. I was told by several doctors that I would never work again, nor have a normal life again. Well, finding one physical therapist who believed in me, and a pain management doctor who after a year, of the worst pain I have ever gone through, I proved to them, and all the naysayers that I could come back, I returned to a squad, in under a year.
I got married! That was the other fantastic event. On October 5th of this year, will be our 10 year anniversary. I met Michelle, my beautiful wife, friend, and who completes me, a year earlier, and my life has been better ever since.
Things have changed over the years, I no longer can keep up with the pain in my back , when I came back after the incident, I still lived with a pain of 5/6 out of 10 everyday, but I did not want to go on disability at age 29, I was not done yet. But now it is all catching up with me, the pain is beyond control, and I am no longer able to be the field Medic I want to be, and that was hard, hard to do. I still hope to maybe still teach, going to get my certifications back to teach CPR, first aid, and maybe more, so don’t count me out yet!
So present day, A Medic’s World, where you are now. I am trying to make this site grow, to build a family of friends and readers, who enjoy coming here, just to read something funny, or to hear me talk. There was so much left out obviously, but maybe over the years, I will share individual stories, that I hope you come back to read. If you liked what I shared, I ask and hope you share it with others, I would love to know more people, and to have their world become part of mine! As always, I appreciate you being here, thank you for reading, remember to smile! and have a great day!
Discover more from Tom's Take On Things
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
A hero in more ways than one It takes a special kinda person to work in the world of EMS. I am an EMT-FR strictly as a volunteer and I know how trying it can be! You have overcame so much! Good Luck to you in your future journeys! You definitely have the motivation! I look forward to reading more from you in the future and will definitely add your blog to one of my favorites!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful words April, Thank you for being a Volunteer, everyone helping is all that matters! Not sure where my future journeys will take me, but I am hoping to have nice people like you follow with me along the way to find out, would love if you knew anyone that would like it here, to share it forward, thanks again! Sincerely, Tom. Have a great day! 🙂
It’s great getting to know you…..always wonderful meeting someone else who’s been in rescue work. Many prayers for your continued healing and management of the back pain!!
Thank you so much Julieann, I do appreciate the kind and thoughtful words, have a great day, and remember to smile! 🙂
Wow! What a life! I, too am 43 and tonight is my 25th high school reunion. It was interesting reading your story since I have been waxing nostalgic for the past few days since I wasn’t able to make it to Chicago from FL to the reunion.
“Emergency” rocked. That was such a great show. I am so with you on the props for that show.
Early congrats for your 10 year anniversary! Yesterday (the 15th) was the 13 year anniversary of my divorce. Didn’t quite make it 10 years. The divorce was finalized on Sept. 15th and the anniversary was on Sept. 23rd so you will have me beat. Way to go!
I’m a caregiver for my 82 year old mom and suffer from MDD related pain. I can’t even begin to imagine how bad your pain must be.
Take care and nice “meeting” you.
Thank you so much for your comments Carol, it is nice meeting you as well. Much adoration for taking care of your mom! Thank you! Hope you enjoyed your reunion! Thank you for sharing, your comments and thoughts, hope to see you here again soon!
First, thank you so much for representing our country, doing things that most people opt out of. I would love to hear the whole story behind the 4000 lb van, that had to be frightening. It was nice meeting you Tom you count on my blogger friendship. See you in group(sounds like a rehab)
Jenn, ask and you will receive if you go over to my about me page About Me you will find the story in a little more detail. I look forward to your friendship and you have mine as well. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you back! Have a great day!
My ex husband wore size 15 shoes…finding shoes could be a pain in the butt – and I worked for a shoe store at the time! You sound like you have had a very interesting life….I can relate on the not so popular in High School but did have a few good friends, unfortunatly high school ends and those friends all took off to make their own lives. It was great getting to “know” you a little better
Thank you for the wonderful comments Natasha, I can find some size 15 shoes at Kohls. So when ever they go on sale, usually I get 2 pairs at a time if they have them since they are hard to find. Thanks again, I agree, we all have our own lives, would love to touch base with a few, hoping one day they find this post, or my site. Have a great day, and thanks again for stopping by!
It was great learning a bit more about you, Tom! My mother and myself are the only ones in my family who are not in the medical field. All three of my older brothers became nurses after caring for my dad and seeing the amazing people who helped make my dad’s life better in his final days. He was a marine that developed a bad heart after fighting in the Korean war. Fro the stories I have heard, he was a field medic and also did submarine work. His health problems came protecting another soldier – had shrattenal (sp) all throughout his back and near his heart. It eventually caused serious health problems. He was told he wasn’t going to live and ended up living a good long life, having kids, and didn’t die until 1988. It’s amazing what will power and hope can do though 🙂
As I said, all of my brothers are now nurses, but my oldest brother served in the Navy during Desert Storm. I still remember the fear every time we heard someone in my hometown died. I have a lot of respect for you serving to protect all of us and coming home to help others 🙂 I always felt like the oddball as special ed teacher.
Anyways, I have probably ranted enough. I was just really inspired but you said and it reminded me a lot of my own family 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing some bits about your family, I so appreciate it! I am glad your dad had a long life, He had some amazing kids from the look of it, including you of course! —-> points at you! You can rant all you want! I actually dated a Special Ed teacher while I was in the military out of Ft. Bragg, small world. So I have much admiration for you and others in your field. So when do I get to come over for breakfast? Have a good day, hope to see you back, Tom.
size 15 shoes!! WOWZER :p
Loved this post and very much enjoyed reading it..mind if I steal your idea and run with it on my own blog?
Thanks for the comments Tammy, I appreciate it, run with it, I always want to build relationships with new friends, bloggers, and hope that I might get to where I want to accomplish with this site, would love if you share when you do, would love to see it Thanks for stopping by!
I absolutely loved reading this and learning more about you. Your mention of Land of the Lost, Emergency, and Tonka trucks sent me back to my own childhood. I road my Tonka dump truck down our steep driveway 100 times if not more 😉 I had a huge crush on Roy too!
I’m glad you have dealt with and overcame your adversities, you are an inspiration 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for commenting Lin, I loved my Tonka Toys, have a great day, and thanks so much for stopping by!
Wow. It sounds like you’ve done a *lot* of living in your time!
Thanks for the comment Suzi, thanks for stopping by, have a great day!