james1882's 2004 Mazda RX8

I grew up in a very God-fearing and Christian (Protestant) household. I even have an uncle who was a Pastor for a church he started in the south. My testimony...hmmm, well, let's see...after High School, I was a philosophy major at Bethany College with plans for law school in the near future. However, as life does when it has you firmly in its grasp, things changed. My roommate during freshman year was a volunteer firefighter and EMT with the local rescue squad. I went down, met the people, and loved it. I immediately went to school and shortly became a Firefighter/Paramedic...eventually working in Pittsburgh. However, that was only the beginning. I took notice of flight nursing...yes, aboard medical helicopters...as we in the field have a fair amount of exposure to that lifestyle. And, of course, you can't live in the 'Burgh and not notice Life Flight or StatMedEvac buzzing around. This lead me to leave Bethany and transfer into nursing school at St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh. I graduated and started my trauma training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Eventually making it on several network TV specials (i.e., "Hopkins, 24/7" on ABC (and available on DVD) and TLC's, "Trauma: Life in the ER") As the road to becoming a flight nurse is long and filled with continuing education and hands on training, while at Hopkins, I worked for a local Critical Care Ground Transport team to gain additional experience. This lead me to my first flight position in Reno, NV. Hmmm, Pittsburgh to Reno...quite a change, right? Yes, but not as much of a change as living here in Los Angeles (really, Orange County...but who's keeping tabs?) I left Reno for Los Angeles and worked as a trauma nurse for UCLA. This leads me to my big story. On my only night off, I crashed my motorcycle and ended up on a helicopter inbound for UCLA. Yes, my OWN TRAUMA TEAM fought to save my life. I ended up completely dislocating my left leg at the knee and crushing my pelvis and fracturing it in three places. This actually caused me to bleed to death internally...I coded only five minutes after arriving inside the hospital. They resuscitated me (CPR and a total of 21 units of blood) for nearly 3 1/2 minutes before they re-established a pulse and BP. Multiple surgeries, rehab and only four months later I returned to work. Though I managed to nearly kill myself on a motorcycle (Yes, I should know better) I've still somehow evaded the Glory of the Lord. Why did he let me live? Why am I here? I wanna' find out. I'm currently working as an Emergency Room Nurse and Trauma Nurse Specialist in Southern California in an ambulance (for AMR) and aboard a medical helicopter.

UPDATE (as of 10/27/2009)

I am back in Pittsburgh, PA as of the last 30-45 days. Work is hard to come by. Not sure what the Lord has in store for me now. But I will put it in his hands. With his help, and the help of my brothers and sisters of Holy Rollerz, I will get through this rough patch. I never officially joined a chapter, but the Charleston, WV chapter is closest for me. Especially since more than half my family is from there or still resides there. Anyone willing to contact me can. God bless. James.