Dear My Fellow Peers,

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the support I received from department leadership, the Peer Support Team, the Union, and my fellow firefighters during the most difficult period of my life.

Within a six-month span, I lost my 15-year-old son to an extremely rare form of cancer and my father to ALS. As you can imagine, the emotional toll was overwhelming. Like many of us in this profession, I believed I could manage the grief on my own. We witness tragedy daily and often convince ourselves that we are equipped to handle anything. However, I learned that even those who respond to crises for a living sometimes need help navigating their own.

After struggling for nearly a year to keep my head above water, I made the difficult decision to reach out to our Peer Support Team. Within an hour, they were by my side. As hard as it was to make that call, I was met with compassion, professionalism, and complete absence of judgment. That initial outreach made all the difference.

Through the combined efforts of the Union and the Peer Support Team, I was connected with Shatterproof, a program specifically tailored to firefighters, law enforcement officers, and military personnel. Shatterproof developed a treatment plan uniquely suited to my circumstances. With their guidance, I was finally able to process my grief in a healthy manner and begin rebuilding my life.

My purpose in sharing this is simple: these programs work. The Peer Support Team and the Union uphold their commitment to confidentiality and a judgment-free environment. I have personally experienced the true meaning of brotherhood within this department.

It is my sincere hope that my experience encourages others to seek assistance when they need it. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it is a step toward healing. I extend my hand to anyone who may be struggling and invite them to contact me at any time if I can be of assistance.

Thank you for your continued support of programs that protect not only the physical safety of our personnel, but their mental and emotional well-being as well.