EMT Saves Wife But Loses Car

This story is my brother's, in his own words. This happened on Friday afternoon, July 15, in Big Horn County, Wyoming.

My greatest fear working as an EMT and also for the last 2 years as a driver for an ambulance service is responding to a call that involved a family member. While we were finishing up a call yesterday at the hospital I just happened to look at my phone and I saw i had a voice mail. I looked at my call log - I had no missed calls. I stepped outside and to my horror I heard Pamela's voice "Timmy I need you" it wasn't the usual "answer your phone I'm irritated and you have your ringer shut off again" tone. It was fear and crying.

After trying to call her twice and only getting voice mail her call to me came through. Between the fearful sobs and I'm sorrys I could only decipher "glass in eyes" and "between Greybull and Basin." I screamed at the 2 medics with me that we need to go NOW. The three of us took off and I raidoed dispatch "Basin MS199"..... The next 90 seconds is a blur.

I don't know what caused me to turn left and not right, but we found Pamela - sitting on the side of the road. I parked the ambulance head on into oncoming traffic as I have many times before. I remember calling dispatch and saying we were on scene and needed law enforcement for traffic control. Again the rest is a blur. I know I was screaming and barking orders.

The hood of the van had come open while she was driving. While she was only going between 65 and 70 in a 70 zone the force was enough to cause the hood to hit the windshield and cause a hyperextension of the hinges. Pamela's reaction was to hit the breaks. These both combined - the traveling of the hood into the passenger compartment and her forward motion towards the now broken windshield caused her head to impact the rear view mirror.

She was complaining of head and neck pain. My mindset was.... I don't know again its a but of barking orders and remembering training. In class I back boarded Khloe and Kayti and my class mates many times. This time it was my wife. I remember needing room to work and bending the drivers side door of my only dependable vehicle against the front fender. It's only a car.

For what ever reason Pamela went unresponsive - I'm sorry Hunny Bunny that bruise on your chest is from me - she was only responding to what's called painful stimulus (in this case a knuckle rubbing the breastbone). I drove the ambulance back to the hospital. And rushed her inside.

Pamela spent the next 3 hours on that backboard. The CT scan showed no issues with her neck, but it did show three very small places in a triangle shape that were bleeding on her brain. A nasty concussion. The van is most likely totaled, but she is alive. The timing of this is horrible (like there is ever a good time for something like this) and as I always say..... This too shall pass.

That is my brother's story. His passion in life is being an EMT - a first responder to car accidents, domestic violence, and little old ladies who fall down and need help. He has been there for many people. Now he needs someone to be there for him. He needs a car and money to help cover the medical bills beyond what insurance will pay. Any and all donations are appreciated more than you will ever know. Bless you.