First Responders...and PTSD

 TW: Vivid descriptions below of trauma & human suffering...mental health...and illness.

I'm working on the next 'Abbeville' series book...It's called 'Worth the Wait' and its stars (besides, of course, the indomitable Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Edney, who will tell you (and everyone else) they are the stars of everything Abbeville) are Becky and Chip.

Those of you familiar with Abbeville and Monica & Daniel's story from 'When You Believe' will remember Becky the Baker who becomes Monica's Black Bear partner and EMT Chip who helps save Jamie Manning's life. This is a story close to my heart, as I grew up in a First Responders family & Chip is based on a very, very close and loved person in my life, and his struggles are very, very real-- and very misunderstood.

Let me explain...

Chip is a first responder EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) but also much more: His entire life has been centered around helping people, seeing them at their worst, and doing his best to comfort and heal in almost impossible situations. We take for granted our First Responders, just as we took for granted our 'Essential Workers' before (and I'd argue, even after) the all too recent Covid 19 pandemic. Yet they are always there when we need them the most: when we're in an accident, a fire, have a medical emergency. When there's a fair or a festival or parade, we see their trucks and know they're near if we feel faint from the heat or fall and bloody a knee. 

But do we ever really consider what they do?

They see the worst: things we can't begin to imagine. They see what happens when a teenager takes a curve of the road too fast and the car hits a tree. They see what happens when someone decides to take their anger and frustration out on another person. They see the aftermath of the all too common mass shootings. They see all the things we hope and pray we never, ever have to see.

Every day. And they still continue to do their job.

There's a saying, in firefighter families, "When others run away from the fire, we run into it". When others pray not to see how utterly fragile every human body is, EMTs have to fight to keep them alive until the doctors and nurses can try to fix them. They are always on duty, even when not at the station or on the ambulances, because being a Healer, a First Responder, is who they are.

Is it any wonder an estimated 30 % (1 in 3) of all First Responders have PTSD?

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is commonly associated with military personnel, and rightly so. We don't, as a society, talk about this very often. We want to think only the military have this condition. But anyone who suffers a trauma will suffer from PTSD. People in storms. People in wars. People in fights.

First Responders have to put aside their feelings to do their jobs. It sounds and can seem cold. They are clinically doing their job, not being emotional, and not showing horror or fear. Because that's the job. Maybe as much, often more, than tending to wounds and hurts and broken parts, their job is to remain clinical so they can do what has to be done, what most of us can't.

When we dream about being hurt, about being in a hurricane or tornado, or being shot, or having a heart attack, or someone shooting at us, or a car accident, we call it a nightmare. PTSD is a nightmare when you can't wake up that happens when you don't expect it. It takes a strong, strong person to see what First Responders see and still return to the job.

I'm not that strong.

I'm from a family of First Responders from way, way back in the line (at least twelve generations). I've seen my immediate family's PTSD. Maybe no one called it that, but it was. I've seen my father cry from remembrance dreams where he relives what he's seen, what he's done to try to help, to heal. I've held my husband when he's woken in a cold sweat or when he's gone into a cold sweat when I cut my hand badly. Not because he faints at the sight of blood, but because he was reliving a scene where the lady wasn't able to be saved after her boyfriend took his anger out on her and their two-year-old.

If you are experiencing PTSD, please contact your doctor or speak to someone you love and trust. No one needs to suffer alone. Help is always there if you just reach for it.

Chip is suffering from PTSD and refuses to admit it. He's about to break, in a very hard, very bad, way. He needs help. But for someone who is so used to giving, not receiving, he's not going to easily accept or admit what he needs the most.

Becky the baker is a solid part of Abbeville who's been on her own for a long time. She's also been Chip's friend since they were in kindergarten. When she sees him, really, truly sees him, and what he needs most, she's going to try to move the grass and skies above to get him what he needs.  Because somewhere in all these years as friends... she now realizes Chip is much, much more.

You get to meet some new-to-readers Abbeville folk: Chip's partner Maury & wife Olivia... nurse Sherrie...Linda, assistant baker... and many more.

Readers also get to see updates on familiar Abbeville folks...have Anna & Robin become parents yet? How's Jamie after his near-fatal attack and have his warring daughters Emily & Kassie finally made a lasting peace? Are newlyweds Monica & Daniel still in wedded bliss? What new schemes have Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Edney devised to keep the whole town on its toes?

And Eliza-Bear gains a very close, very needed friend.

It's been a journey writing Becky & Chip's story, in the quiet way Chip finally opened up to me and in the rather rambling way Becky talked to me in bread, cake, and pie metaphors. These two are not to be missed!