MY JOURNEY

The call of duty ran deep in my veins. For 33 years, I dedicated myself to the fire service, answering the call in the darkest hours, saving lives, and standing shoulder to shoulder with my brothers and sisters in uniform. Being a firefighter and paramedic was more than just a career—it was my identity.

But life has a way of shifting the ground beneath our feet when we least expect it. I was diagnosed with NASH (Non-Alcoholic Cirrhosis of the liver), a condition that gradually eroded my strength, stealing away the reliability I once prided myself on. Missing work became an unfortunate norm, and I knew it wasn’t fair—to the department, to my team, or to myself. Though I held the esteemed position of Chief of Support Services, the undeniable truth loomed: it was time to step away.

Retirement wasn’t a choice. It was a necessity. And it was the hardest transition of my life.

Eight months later, hope arrived in the form of a liver transplant—an event that changed my life forever. Gratitude surged through me, but so did the realization that the life I once knew would never fully return. The days of hauling equipment, standing beneath the blazing sun, and feeling the raw physicality of my work were gone. In their place, new rules governed my world: no heavy lifting, no prolonged exposure to sunlight, and a dust mask whenever I stepped outdoors.

But if there’s one thing firefighters know, it’s how to adapt in the face of adversity. I refused to sit idle.

Among the relics of my father’s legacy, I discovered a new purpose. His woodworking tools, once instruments of his craft, became the foundation of my next chapter. My father was a master of wild game calls, especially his famous turkey calls, a skill that had earned him recognition among enthusiasts. I took up the trade—not just to pass the time, but to honor his memory and continue the tradition.

Yet, some days, even working with wood proved too much. My body dictated my limits, but my mind was restless. That’s when I turned to something else entirely—a website. A platform where I could share the knowledge I had amassed over the years, exchange ideas with others, and continue learning as I researched and wrote articles. The more I dug into my studies, the more I realized how much there was to discover.

This venture wasn’t just about passion—it was also practical. The financial burden of my transplant was a weight I carried every day, and I knew I had to find a way to ease it. Affiliate marketing became my means of turning knowledge into something sustainable, a way to ensure that my medical journey didn’t leave me struggling.

Retirement may have come sooner than expected, but my journey is far from over. From firefighter to transplant survivor, to woodworker, writer, and entrepreneur—I continue forward, embracing the evolution of who I am, determined to make every day count.

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”

– Babe Ruth