Helping Lieutenant James Gilbert’s Family
Donation protected
Following a hard and courageous fight following his stroke, Lieutenant James Gilbert passed away at the age of 47 on March 28, 2019.
James had been making incredible progress in his physiotherapy during his time at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. Regaining movement on his left side which had been paralyzed. Walking, climbing stairs and a little bit of movement in his left arm proved how determined James was to be back with his family, playing ball and one day climbing into a fire truck resuming his role with Wetaskiwin Fire Services.
Kim and the boys have been so overwhelmed with the generosity from family, friends, fellow emergency service members, his community as well as total strangers. If you were fortunate enough to know James, you know he would do anything for anyone which made him an outstanding member of our fire department.
On the morning of Saturday, March 2, 2019 Lieutenant James Gilbert, with Wetaskiwin Fire Services suffered a major stroke.
We are not clear of the timeline but we believe that it happened at about 6:00 a.m. as he was getting up to respond to a fire call.
His wife, Kim, woke up at about 6:45 a.m. to find James laying on the floor in their living room. She tried to help him up but quickly realized James was in serious trouble and called 9-1-1 as well as our Deputy Fire Chief.
James was rushed to the Wetaskiwin Hospital and then transported up to the U of A Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. Further tests confirmed the stroke as well as an internal bleed in his abdomen. He was placed on a 72 hour watch in ICU to make sure there wasn’t any shifting or swelling in his brain. We are now past that 72 hour watch and James has been moved out of ICU into a care ward!
Because of the abdominal bleed, they were not able to treat the clot with the clot-busting drug.
If you would like to help in any other way, please feel free to contact:
Wetaskiwin Fire Services at [phone redacted].
Please keep James’ family in your prayers.
James had been making incredible progress in his physiotherapy during his time at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. Regaining movement on his left side which had been paralyzed. Walking, climbing stairs and a little bit of movement in his left arm proved how determined James was to be back with his family, playing ball and one day climbing into a fire truck resuming his role with Wetaskiwin Fire Services.
Kim and the boys have been so overwhelmed with the generosity from family, friends, fellow emergency service members, his community as well as total strangers. If you were fortunate enough to know James, you know he would do anything for anyone which made him an outstanding member of our fire department.
On the morning of Saturday, March 2, 2019 Lieutenant James Gilbert, with Wetaskiwin Fire Services suffered a major stroke.
We are not clear of the timeline but we believe that it happened at about 6:00 a.m. as he was getting up to respond to a fire call.
His wife, Kim, woke up at about 6:45 a.m. to find James laying on the floor in their living room. She tried to help him up but quickly realized James was in serious trouble and called 9-1-1 as well as our Deputy Fire Chief.
James was rushed to the Wetaskiwin Hospital and then transported up to the U of A Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. Further tests confirmed the stroke as well as an internal bleed in his abdomen. He was placed on a 72 hour watch in ICU to make sure there wasn’t any shifting or swelling in his brain. We are now past that 72 hour watch and James has been moved out of ICU into a care ward!
Because of the abdominal bleed, they were not able to treat the clot with the clot-busting drug.
If you would like to help in any other way, please feel free to contact:
Wetaskiwin Fire Services at [phone redacted].
Please keep James’ family in your prayers.
Fundraising team (2)
Tyler Gandam
Organizer
Wetaskiwin, AB
Kim Gilbert
Beneficiary
Samantha Cochrane
Team member