I have not seen a huge amount stuff in my short career as an EMT, but I have seen a few things that would bother some people, but nothing that has really affected me. When you think of what would bother you, you always think of kid calls, or a mass casualty, or something along those lines, never did I think the following story would have such an impact on me.

The story starts about 9 months ago when a lady I worked with was diagnosed with Lukemia. Now this was a woman that I have known for a long time, besides working with her. She even made a baby blanket for me when I had my son< and even though her and I didn't always see eye to eye at work, and we had a difference of opinions on a lot of things she was still a HUGE mentor in my life. She always stood up for what she belived in, and made sure everyone was taken care of.

After she was diagnosed she had to quit working so she could get her treatment, and over the months I lost touch with her. A little over a week ago I recieved word that the Dr. have only given her a week to live, which had been over a week ago. This saddened me and I started trying to figure out a way to get a hold of her so I couldtell how muh she had meant to me.

While I was thinking about this I got a text message from my mom telling me that my brother-in-law was on his way into the ER because he had fallen out of his truck. After this I went over to the ER to check on him and my sister. While over there I noticed there was someone in one of the other beds, but of course I couldn't see who it was because of the privacy curtain. While I sat there talking with my sister and her husband, I heard a very familiar voice..... as I listened I confirmed what I thought, though it was very much weaker, and the speech was slurred, it was her.

As I sat there I heard the Dr. talk to the family and make some phone calls trying to decide what to do. As he family poured in with tears in their eyes I knew the end must be near. I was wishing I could go say goodbye, but I didn't want to intrude on what seemed like the family's last moments.

I went home a little while later and tried to go on about my daily business but I just couldn't get her off my mind. A couple hours later I got a phone call from my boss on the ambulance. He told me that I would be getting paged out shortly and what it would be. I hung up the phone and started to cry, then I told myself it would be ok, and as i put my shoes on the page came across "North Big Horn Hospital ambulance crew please respond to the hospital to transport a patient home" With tears in my eyes I got in my car and drove to the hospital.

As I walked into the ER, there she was, laying on the ER cot, surrounded by friends and family. She was very thin and she had no hair, but i knew it was her. When she was ready, we very carefully transfered her onto the ambulance cot, put blankets and her hat on her and loaded her into the ambulance.

While we were going down the road she asked to be put on her side, so one of the other EMT's and I proped her up, and as we did she grabbed my hands with hers and thanked me, and told me how much she had missed work, especially all the people she had worked with. AS we pulled into the driveway I was fighting back the tears.

We took her out of the back of the ambulance and into the house, then very carefuly we transfered her onto her bed and made sure she was comfortable, and the one thing I will remember the most is that all she did was thank us, and tell us how good we were at our job. I don't think I have ever known a more selfless person in my life.

As we left she told us that it might not be for quite a while but that she would be seeing us again someday. A couple days later while I was at work I was told that she had passed away. i was very sad, but at the same time I felt good because I got to help her with her last wish, which was to be able to die at home.

This is the one call that has stuck in my mind the most, and I think it will always be there in the back of my mind. It was the single most difficult thing I have done so far in my career, yet it was also one of the most rewarding things at the same time, just knowing the service I did for that woman and her family.