Summer evening light flooded my living room as I moved some furniture around and thought about what movie to watch with my lovely cat.
My lower leg scraped against a sharp edge which opened up a small wound. BIG SURPRISE! That small wound was on the surface of an active blood vessel. Blood started shooting out of my leg as though my good strong heart was having a water gun fight. All of a sudden, my life was a scene from a bad horror movie.
I applied pressure, even made bandages with towels and duct tape, but the bleeding would not stop. I was getting scared. I decided to call 911. I got out my old Samsung phone and dialed 911: no response, just silence. Now I was starting to panic. I tried again. Silence. Then I remembered that my cell phone number has a 347 area code, so I dialed 1-218-911 and the call was answered by a Cook County Dispatcher. She asked questions and kept me on the line until the ambulance arrived. I don’t know the dispatcher’s name but I will never forget her. She was professional and compassionate.
Jason, Ariana, and Julia were my ambulance crew, my super heroes. They were also professional and compassionate. A deputy stopped by to see if we needed any help too.
Cook County is blessed with an army of people who have dedicated their lives, in big and small ways, to helping others. They are professionals and volunteers, available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. They bear witness to our most vulnerable life moments. We are lucky to have their support and I am grateful. Thank you all.
Jean Marie Modl,
Grand Marais
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