Tough to Title

Hi all,

This is Steve posting in an attempt to summarize what has been a very active (a significant understatement but I struggle to describe succinctly, hence the "title") 3+ past few weeks and to let you know of a few things on the horizon. The days

leading up to and through the holidays were a mixture of precious time spent with family (remotely) & friends and some very tough and tragic events that have unfolded in our community.

First, I along with over 1/3 of our Lacey Fire team & almost 100 from various agencies in our county responded to help our Pierce County partners manage the Amtrak derailment on December 18th. While it was heartbreaking to see such devastation and loss, it was also encouraging to see so many different agencies & individuals work together amid some of the most challenging conditions imaginable.

Then on Christmas morning, our Lacey Fire family faced an even more personal challenge as we learned that one of our active firefighters had died unexpectedly. While our entire team continues to grieve, we have again found ourselves being loved, encouraged, and supported by all of our partners throughout the entire region. We are continuing our work on planning for a memorial service and supporting the family through this very difficult time. I am extremely thankful for how our team is pulling together to care of each other while they continue their work of serving our community.

Finally I'll offer a brief update on Lee's health (she made me promise to post the other info first :) and the current plan moving forward. As I type this, I'm sitting in the surgical waiting room while the orthopedic surgeon works on repairing Lee's left shoulder. She's been battling frequent dislocations and chronic pain for several months. This seems to be one more symptom/side effect of her systemic connective tissue disorder and the surgeon is not sure how much he can repair or improve, but is hopeful he can give her some increased stability and pain relief. Once her rehab from this procedure is progressing well, our hope and plan is to resume the process of getting an evaluation at the Mayo Clinic in pursuit of

more definitive answers and potential treatments.

We'll continue to update here as we move forward and know more details. In the interim, thank you so much for your ongoing prayers and encouragement!

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Comments

Ginger Smith:

Keeping you and Lee and your fire department family in my prayers!

Tom and Linda Hamilton:

Thank you so much Steve for your update......all are in our prayers, and most importantly, in God's hands. God Bless you both, and the Lacey Fire Dept..... Tom and Linda Hamilton Priest River, Idaho

Joan Bouck:

While there have been many trials to bear recently, and no doubt more to come, I pray we will all have unwavering faith, and uplifting hope and support of each other to see us through the darkness and to overcome all. Good wishes to both of you and good luck with Lee's surgery. Joan LFD3

sandra henry:

Praying for your fd family as well as you and Lee. Love you.

Terri Gilbert:

Praying today as I do everyday for my two dear friends. God is great. Lifting you both up to him today and the surgical team with Lee surgery and recovery. Hoping Lee has her army man close. Much love Terri Gilbert

James Broman:

It is of interest to me that our holiday celebration/rituals are sometimes peaceful, reflective and refreshing; yet other times -- such as this past Christmas season -- seem to draw tumultuous distractions, sometimes bordering on chaotic. It seems as though your experiences, both personally and professionally, have tended toward the latter over this past month. While I am personally in a time of peaceful reflection, I have the opportunity to lend support through prayer and encouragement. While I can certainly identify with the overwhelming challenges for local Fire & EMS services, I'm not sure I can fully appreciate the depth of challenge and testing of patience, which you and Lee continue to face. I can only pray and trust that our God will hear and answer our prayers.

Ellen Bunch :

Love you Steve and Lee Bob too. Praying here in Tennessee