About My Son,My Hero

[Debbie]

It's taken me along time to be able to tell his story..As a mother I get emotional every time I start to think about what all we have been through...BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD..For God was with me this day..
My son, Steven who was 20 years old at the time was a Volunteer Firefighter,here at one of the stations in Pensacola...This was his life..Steven loves to help people, he is the most caring and loving person you would want to meet..I will start with his story..

December24,2006
We live here in a Naval community, where alot of the Firefighters are military, a few of them wanted to go home for Christmas,for at the first of the year were to be deployed to Iraq..So Steve,stayed at the stationed and filled in for them,..We would see each other once a day and talk on the phone several times..
On Christmas Eve,they were called out...I wasn't far from the station so I knew everytime the Fire truck left the barn..The fire was right up the road from where we live..Steven's truck was first at the scene..Fully in blazed an abandon house...but one thing there was a homeless person in there,Steven was the first to enter with hoses when he saw the guy, he got the guy out of the burning houses while other Firefighters put water on them,Steven's hands were burnt....The homeless guy and Steven were both taken to the Hospital..the homeless guy was taken to ICU and survived, Steven hands were wrapped and he went right back to the Stationed..after he came home and told me..I knew there was no way to keep him home, because that's what a Fireman does...He came home on Christmas Day to open presents and to eat with me and his Dad...and then back to the station..

On January 3,2007...Steven came in that morning at 3am..the other Firefighters had came back to releive him,plus he was coming down with a cold..at least that is what we all thought...As every morning I was up at 6am getting ready for work..Since I had not had a meal with Steve since Chrismtas Day I decided to make him a home cooked breakfast..I finished getting ready for work and finsihing breakfast and went into his room to wake him up,he came into the livingroom and asked me Mom what are all these blue spots..I didn't have a clue but I knew it wasn't anything good..I told him to get dressed that we were going to the ER.., he went to his bedroom,and then just sat there like he didn't have a clue of what he was to do..I put his shoes on him and to this day I do not know how I got him to the truck or for that matter into the truck...Steven is 6' 6' and was 250lbs. We got to the ER, I got a wheelchair at the entrance and Steven collasped, the nurses came running and next thing i knew we were quarteened,everyone was running,within 15 minutes Steven was on Life Support..I was standing there watching them work on him as his heart stopped..I was in shock,I didn't have a clue of what was happening..He was diagnosed with Meningococcemia a form of Meningitis, which effects the blood stream...
He was taken to SINU,all the Fire Departments started coming to the Hospital..everyone that Steven had been in contact with for the last 2 weeks had to be treated...My husband who was in Illinois at the time had an escort to the Hosptial to have his treatment..They had to call in Tallasshee for more of the vaccination over 400 people had to be treated..The disease spread through his entire body ruturing blood vessels..from head to toe within hours his body looked like he had 1st,2nd and 3rd degree burns..from all the rupturing vesselsHe was on Life Support from Jan. 3 to Feb.25th..The Doctors had only given him a 1% chance of making it....He was given over 4 pints of blood...They have told me if I hadn't woke him and had went on to work,when I came home for lunch he would have been dead..I know God was with me this mroning..From all the Doctors know he received this disease from the burning house on Christmas Eve...On the 26th of Feb. he was placed into a private room where he went through physical therapy to learn to walk all over again and treatment for his ruptures..

Steven got to come home on March 2nd, we had a home health care nurse come to get all his bandages changed and to bath him...he could only walk with a walker and was in extreme pain...still n morphine and Lortab...
He underwent many hours of physical therapy and then skin graphs....Now he is facing having all his teeth cut out...because of all the anitbodics that he was on his teeth have started breaking off..so he can only eat soft food..
But not only physically has this affected him...it has affected him mentally..Not only with this ordeal of the Mengitis..but he was suppose to enter teh Fire Academy in February..which didn't happen...then the Fire Department had a pker run for him ( fund raiser) I was asked by the public how juch we raised and I didn't have a clue, for we never received the money,this was to help with his bandages..it was costing us $157.00 a day to change his bandages..the community got together anyways we recevied a portion of the money raised..The Fire Chief then got mad with us and kicked Steven out of the station,infact put a warrant out for his arrest if he didn't bring his equipment to the station...I was so upset that I called the Sheriff's Dept..which they came and got his equipment and could not believe the nerve of the Chief..needless to say alot of the members of the Fire Station are no longer there..Some days are better than others..Steven is now 22 and and some days he's 22 year old man and then somedays it's like he's 2 years old again..He lost alot of his memory..And doesn't remember things very long at a time..

Since he turned 22 this past October our Insurance on him has cancelled..So now we are on our on putting the bills..We have applied for temp. disablitly and food stamps but so far have been rejected...His Hospital bill alone was over 1/2 million dollars...Praise God someone came fortha nd paid it,but we know not who it was..I just praise God for this person or persons..

He still doesn't sleep at night..I have to stay up with him tilll about 4 in the morning he goes to bed about 7 and gets up around 1 and we start the day all over again..His mood swings are unbelieveable...But we manage..THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD..

It's so hard on my husband...because he's the only one working..and now with us having to pay for his meds and other Doctors bills..My Husband suffered a stroke in 2004 around this time,,it went into this throat and affected his speech..but within 3 months he was back driving again..

With all I have been through with my Cancer and Steven.. he tries to provide the best that he can...

The only thing I pray is that God will meet our needs and not our wants...At present we are having a hard time with rent but I know God is good and He will provide...

Please before you go to bed at night and Every morning tell those around you that you LOVE them..for you never know from one minute to the next what will happen...

It's hard as a mother to watch your child go through something like this..I would take all his pain if I could...but we know God has plans for him...This is what we believe...

It might seem hard to believe..all our friends here even to our Church has turned their backs on us...Steven cannot get out in the sunslight whcih is hard living in Florida...so if we go out it has to be anight..or when we go to the Doctors..he has to wear long sleeves and a jacket so not to blister ..since his skin is so sensative..the Doctors have told us it will be like this for at least 2 1/2 years...if not longer..

We are praying that after the first of the year we can move somewhere it is alittle cooler and where people will welcome us with open arms and not judge the way a person looks...At the moment all our friends are on the computer..

GOD BLESS YOU ALL..

Thank you to those who come by to read...Please continue to hold us in your prayers..

[ray dover]

Steven Bravery wil not go unnotice the angels take down everything we do or say and even think now thats scary because i sometimes doen't have the best thoughts if he isn't rewarded here on earth he will be in heaven. i will pray for him and you that you recover and from this trauma and that Steven is healed and can return to society fully functionalble as a productive citizen. i have found if i have faith it will happen, this earthly test is not easy but God promised it would be worth it we must endure to the end stay faithful and accept the trials and tribulations that are given us we haven't been tested as Job yet but he promises us if we will have faith in hime and do as he commands he will be there for us in our time of need and he will not test us beyond our ability to withstand but we must stay true i struggle myself and i know who my Savior is but i promise you Heavenly Father will not forget what Steven did love Ray

[Mike]

Debbie, I am praying for you Steven and your whole family.. you have had so much happen and i know God is watching over you all.. Stay strong and keep the faith..

God Bless Mike

[DawnLouise]

ooorrhhhh Debs...what a hard time you're having ...so sorry to hear about Steven...I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers...It's so unfair that sweet honest people get handed these hard blows in life but I know your a strong woman and will fight ....stay strong gal...I hope God answers your prayers soon...Big hugs Dawn xx

[Dale Lacroix]

Wow your really brave sis for telling all this to us,God Bless you,BIG HUGS

[Debbie]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND PRAYERS...IF LIFTS MINE AND STEVEN HEART...WESIT AT THE COMPUTER AND READ AND LISTEN TO MUSIC TO PAST THE TIME AWAY..
GOD BLESS AND BIG HUGS TO YOU ALL..

[Candy]

YOUR IN MY PRAYERS AND YOUR FAMILY...GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU...DEBBIE YOU NEED TO TALK I AM HERE...HUGS AND TAKE CARE...MAY GOD BLESS YOU
LOVE YOUR FRIEND CANDY : )

[Robert A. Mitchell]

Hero's are all around us, like Steve. Most are not recognized for what they are, they wear no medals, do no bragging, they just do what must be done day after day after day. You and your family are added to my prayer list, God Bless.

[ButchC]

You certainly have a full plate, God Bless you all.

[Tracy Hallmark]

Heavenly Father, I pray for Steven with my whole heart. I ask you, Lord, to heal him, and give him back his life. I know that Debbie loves you, and I am sure Steven does, too. Please take all the damage from his body and mind and make him whole again. Give Debbie the peace that passes ALL understanding during this time of need. I ask this in the wonderful name of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ, and that you will be glorified
Amen, and AMEN.
Debbie, I really believe that God is healing your son. God is the GREAT HEALER, and He wants you to be healed, too. I know that He does things in His own time, so, we must trust him and be patient.
God bless you and your entire family, and have a pleasant Christmas.
In Jesus' love, ~Tracy~