I Was a Paramedic For 14 Years

This article provides an anecdotal but interesting perspective on paramedical work and its relation to individuals. The author provided their experience of working with cancer patients over 14 years, noting that there seems to be a clear positive correlation between the work they did and the empathy, cohesiveness, and joy in their patients. While a specialized field circumscribed by assumptions around the disease, it is rather striking to see that some of the greatest moments of joy arise from deeply sad situations.

It is sad that the author had to retire from paramedic work no longer able to perform the work as they once had. This highlights issues surrounding much of professions, both for access of specializations, education, and retirement/inability to exit or transition well. One thing emphasized is that it is important to celebrate the gift of life no matter how far along the path of life something has been set back, as "Loving cancer," gave some of America's most wonderful historical figures their gifts and means there will always be character.

Finally, to the truly untold story glimpsed through Aunt Beatcha's Cookies and the wealth going unclaimed, helping people ultimately means lessening burdens on turistic and government services. People's experiences could be lengthened and improved along by such efforts building community engaged support prior to being left with only government structures which struggle with time sensitive needs in proportion to decisions that may be too granular to eschew for short term pragmatism. It sounds as if most sympathetic outsiders have experienced similar dissatisfaction with bureaucratic systems and thanks for authentic human engagement.