I have worked in EMS for 3.5 years.

What other fire service/emergency medical service agencies have you served with?

I worked at Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City prior to coming to Fort Dodge Fire. I still work in EMS at VDMC as needed.

What is an interesting fact about you that some might not know?

I used to have a HORRIBLE fear of firefighters in uniform when I was a small child. The sound of the breathing through the mask and not being able to see who was behind it was very scary for me. Fire prevention week in pre-school and third grade were a couple of the worst weeks of my life.

What is the most memorable incident you’ve responded to?

While many calls are memorable for me, some more than others stick out in my head. I responded to a female having a miscarriage while I, myself, was 26 weeks pregnant. The fear and sadness in her eyes made my heart hurt right along with her, but we were able to connect on a different level than most. I remember driving home that night after my shift crying for her and her husband. I thought about her many times throughout the rest of my pregnancy and my heart still hurts when I think of her now.

What’s the best part of your day?

Walking into the station in the mornings and hearing “Hey Nay Nay” from most of my co-workers really starts the day off right.

What gives you the most satisfaction in your job?

Most of the time, we are a light on someone’s worst day. It’s reassuring to know that we are the comfort some people look to seek, especially during their emergency.

What is the toughest part of your job?

One of the toughest parts of my job is knowing that on some of the biggest emergencies we give everything we’ve got and do everything we possibly can and still the outcome doesn’t go in our favor.