FB friends(part 4)

 Today we have...

I will start today with the sweetest young lady who was working in an assisted living facility. I met Alissa when I was picking up a patient from her facility. She told me all about the patient physically and mentally but wasn't able to tell me much about their medical history. I was super impressed by how well she knew the patient and how sweet she was with the patient. It was almost like I was there picking up Alissa's own mom. Come to find out, Alissa wasn't a nurse, wasn't even a CNA, she was the activities director. I went to that facility often, but after meeting Alissa I made it a point to see her when I was there. She always gave me great information on the people I was there to get and she was just so nice. As we walked through the place she talked to everyone we encountered, you could tell that she was well-loved there. I caught her one day away from work and met her dogs, Alissa's car was one big hairball. Alissa is married and she moved away some years ago. Wherever she is now I am sure she is making people happy and is well loved. 

Alex Dolidze is next up. I worked with Alex overseas when I was in Kurdistan. I will be the first to tell you that Alex and I did not get along at all when we first started working together. Alex is from the country of Georgia, and if I were to take a guess he has worked with Americans in the past that weren't very helpful. I want to say that Alex was on the drill crews and he had a tough job. There is a lot of physical work involved and it can be exhausting. I started helping him and his crews out by carrying equipment up and down the hills. It was after I started this, Alex saw me in a different light. He started talking to me and wanting to be around me. I held no ill feelings towards him, I knew where he was coming from. Alex is a strong man, with a good work ethic and takes care of his people. I would love to go to his country one day and when I do I hope I get to see him. 

Zach Madramootoo(it sounds like it looks)is one cool guy. I first met Zach in the ER where he was a nurse. Zach was always quick to help us out and really knew his stuff. I have seen Zach progress through the ER ranks, and now he is a nurse practitioner. You can tell that Zach loves what he does and he cares for those he treats. I see Zach all the time in the ER and he always makes it a point to say hi, and give a handshake or a hug. Keep up the good work young man. 

Now for another friend that was taken too soon. Jennifer Baldwin Mitchell was a young lady I got to transport a few times. The first time I transported her, it was a transport of firsts. She had bad leg pain in the area of her hip, so I dug in my bag, grabbed the rope that I keep in there, and slung her leg from the grab bar. She told me she was much more comfortable that way, so we were both happy. Unfortunately, that didn't las very long and we had to figure something else out. Next first, halfway into our trip, she told me that she had to go to the bathroom. That is a male medics fear, you have nothing but a bedpan, so we try everything to avoid it. This time that was not going to happen. So, I did what I had to do, made a childlike dad comment that made us both laugh and that made the awkward situation better. I kept in contact with Jennifer, and she told me that she indeed have cancer in her bones and she was in for a long treatment regimen. I transported Jennifer to the rehab facility that she was sent to and I could see that she was worn out and in a lot of pain. She had told me what her favorite candies were, so when I had a chance I hooked her up. Each time I transported to that facility I stopped in to see her and see how she was doing. Jennifer was a funny person and she liked to joke around. Jennifer was a mom and she loved to tell me about her kids. Rest in peace young lady, you were one of a kind. "Front to back right?" LoL

My next friend is one amazing woman. Alicia Smithey is one of the hardest-working people I know. I first met Alicia when she came to ride clinicals with me as an EMT student. She and I hit it off right away, she was a go-getter and wanted to learn everything she could. Alicia told me that she drove a tow truck in the county so I was always looking out for her. If I saw her I would wave and she would wave back. When I started working in the county I saw her all the time and I got to see her work. She could flip a car and load it quicker than crap. There have been times where I needed a tow and Alicia has always taken care of me and my family. I met her dad one day when I was at the track, he approached me and started telling me about his daughter Alicia. Her dad was so proud of her, and he gave me his number and said if I ever needed anything to let him know. Alicia has the cutest little daughter who is the light of her life. I love to see all the pictures that she posts of them. Alicia, you are one of a kind, I'll be watching out for you, and stay safe out there. P.S. It was good to see you in Guyton today, that was me that let you out onto 119. 

Danny White is one of the coolest country dudes that I know. Danny and I worked together at SS and we had a great time together. Danny has a country drawl like no other. Danny was a firefighter in Effingham County when he came to SS, I am not sure where or when he got his EMT but he was a good one. My favorite memory of Danny was when we did a transport to Glennville if I remember right. On the way back we passed the prison that used to house the electric chair. Danny told me that he worked on the elevator there at a previous job and how it was really creepy. On that same trip as I was driving I saw a hawk on the side of the road. Danny didn't see it, so I turned around and went back to it. The bird didn't spook when we approached it so I knew that it was hurt. I went back to the truck and grabbed a spine board that had straps on it. I was on one end of the board and Danny was on the other and we scooped up the bird and moved it into the trees. After we got the bird moved onto a decently high branch we got back in the truck and headed back to Savannah. That was an amazing day for me to say the least. As far as I know, Danny isn't in public safety anymore and he is doing the farming thing. Danny, I miss ya my friend and I hope you're doing well. 

Last but definitely not least is Georgia Bottoms. I can honestly say that  Georgia could have a whole post of her own. I met Georgia almost 20 years ago when we worked together at MedStar. She was a part-time Paramedic and she rode with me from time to time. Georgia knew her job, she knew how to treat patients and she knew how to treat family members. We had a patient that had a really high heart rate one night and she gave the meds that she was supposed to without batting an eye. I have seen seasoned medics wince at the same situation. When I was in paramedic school I rode with Georgia as part of my schooling; she taught me so much. If I am not mistaken, I was with Georgia one night when we had a famous patient. She remained behind me as I assessed the patient, came up with a treatment plan (that included talking to the patient's cardiologist in Beverly Hills), and completed all the patient care. That was an amazing clinical and a highlight in my career. Georgia was an amazing paramedic, but she is no longer working as one. Years ago Georgia started her own animal physical therapy business, Fetch in the Savannah area which was very successful. After selling the business she went back to being a physical therapist in the hospital. Georgia is an active firefighter, she is a mom to a beautiful daughter and is married to another awesome young lady. Georgia has the biggest smile, she loves to make people feel better. I am a better person to have known her, and to have learned from her.