it's a small world after all....

Delaware is called a small wonder.

Really.

Honestly.

You can go from one end of the state to the other in 2 hours or cross it at it's small point in 11 miles.

In Delaware, everyone knows everyone.

Yup.

The 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon games stops at one or two before you realize you know this person from 1 or 2 degrees of separation.

Anyone that has worked in the EMS field knows that we are not just "EMTs.”

WE ARE:
Protectors
Coddlers
Mandatory Reporters
Listeners
Giving
Kind
Selfless
Brave
Dependable
Foolhardy
Lifesaver
Helper
Irreplaceable
Service Orientate
NOBLE
STANDUP
BALLS OF BRASS
LONELY
Broke
Committed
Nuts
Brave
Dedicated
Honorable
Courageous
(P.s. Thank You Firefighternation for all the words)

Anyway.

We do so much more then load people in ambulance and play with the sirens.

I was transporting a young lady this afternoon. We were taking her to REHAB. Typical day in transport EMS. She was telling me about the accident. She also disclosed she had been in an accident with her family in 1994.

Then she stopped and stared at my name badge. I use my married name on the job, but it’s hard to forget a girl named Christian.

Then she said, “It was you.”

I admit I was half heartedly listening to her while I was trying to complete my paperwork.

She was talking, Right? Airway patent and open.

OK. Let’s go back to 4/1994.

I was managing my aunt’s shoe store.

I was 17 years old.

We had just closed our doors to the public for my aunt’s retirement from the shoe business.

As a manger, I had to drive to the unemployment office to drop off the paperwork on Monday so the employee could receive their benefits ASAP. Well, it was Easter Sunday, my parents and were in a bit of a disagreement.
I decided to take the trip up to the unemployment office just to get out of the house.

I was traveling up 2nd street in Wilmington, DE. I was rocking out to my battery operated radio; because, my stereo had been stolen the week prior. I was singing along when I came upon Lincoln street. The light had just turned green, and I entered the intersection.

The next thing I remember was hearing a revving engine directly to the left of me. I had enough time to look left and see a red full car right before impact.

Everything slowed down.

First, my window exploded. I felt the sting as each little square sliced my face. My body became weightless. I grabbed for the steering wheel. But I didn't have the strength to hold on. My hand just kept slipping off like the wheel had been covered in butter.

Time sped up in a burst.

My right shoulder slammed into my passenger door. The passenger window exploded. I felt the door give a little.

Again time slowed. I was weightless again.

What I didn't know at the time my reaching and grabbing the wheel had put my car into a doughnut spin.

Time sped up gain.

I was jammed under the passenger side of my dashboard. My right leg was pinned under my passenger side seat. My left knee by my ear. My butt was jammed so tight in there I couldn't move.

What I didn't know, was I had hit a building, and it had partially collapsed. I also had a broke shoulder, dislocated hips, and a three inch contusion on my spinal cord.

I didn't know my name, only my phone number. A blonde nurse first on the scene called my mother. It took Wilmington FD 40-45 minutes to extricate me.

Long story shorten. It took me close to a year to regain strength to walk semi normally again. I still have an abnormal gait to this day.

My car had a 18 inch encroachment on my driver's side. Estimated speed 73 mph.

I was Lucky.

Back to today. Here is this young lady, who was a passenger in the car which hit me. She thought I had died; because of the way my mother was screaming my name upon arrival.

Yeah. This was one of the many events in my life I relive at least a couple of times a month.

The lady started to cry.

She said her parents were fighting. The driver became distracted. Then began to speed. The rest was history.

She was apologizing to me.

I told her I was ok, and I was still being a pain in everyone's rear.

A smile crossed her face.

Remember the golden rule: DO NO HARM.

If I unloaded on her, cried and complained about how: I predict the weather, how the accident ended my basketball playing, that I still have constant nightmares about losing full use of my legs those would not fall into that rule set.

She asked about me and if there was any I'll effects. I did tell her I developed stenosis from the accident. I'm sure she may or may not look that up.

She said the driver in the accident retired and lives down south. She was so relieved I didn't die. She was also happy to know I was helping others. She said she was going to tell the other passengers about me living.

I really didn't know how to take this encounter. I was mad, sad, and glad all at the same time.

Maybe if at accidents, the person that causes the accident should see the damage they created. They should not be so removed from the incident. First line on an insurance card says if you are in an accident don't admit guilt.

Bullshit.

I was just driving. Now I am in constant pain. I did nothing to deserve my current health issues.

I so wanted to unload on her, but she wasn't the one who caused the driver to drive recklessly.

I just smiled.

She seemed happy to have met me.

I wonder if anything will come from this meeting?

Something tells me this is not over.

Something else will come of this.