Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association Newsletter

Greetings with His Blessings,

Following is a letter from a mother of a firefighter from the Warrington F.D., FFMIA New District west of Pensacola. This firefighter is still fighting for his life from a meningitis attack earlier in the year. I asked his mother for some information about him that I could use to write this month's article. She wrote a letter that I could not improve on, so this month's article is in her own words.

Hello, Chaplain Woody. Wishing you and yours a Blessed Easter. The doctors are sending Steven to two more doctors. One will be an Infectious Disease doctor, Steven's body is rejecting the antibodies and making the infection spread, so they are going to try and see what they can do. Please continue to pray for him.

Now, about my son - my hero. Born Steven Andrew Callicot, Jr., October 16, 1986, in Monroeville, Alabama. At the age of 5, when he entered kindergarten, was when it all started. The Fire Department , with the truck, went to the school and let the kids get on it. That's when it hit! That Christmas, Santa brought Steven a huge remote control fire truck. Christmas night he had to remodel it by putting more lights and making the siren louder and I DO MEAN LOUD!

We moved to Florida in March of 2000, where he took his GED and finished school 2 years early. Steven was born with ADHD and at that time teachers didn't really know what to with an active kid, but we found this one teacher, Ms. Martha Nelson. Steven fell in love with her, she became his second mom and she told him that there was nothing he couldn't do and to follow his dream. To this day, even in the hospital, while he was fighting for his life, she was right there; talking to him, letting him know this was just another block in the road that he could overcome.

Steven is at this moment studying for his last First Responder Firefighter test, that he will take the first of May. His determination is high to pass this test and as soon as the doctors release him he wants to enter the academy.

To give you an idea of the kind of person my son is and the heart he has, his first MVA was very emotional for him. We stayed up talking that night and the next day, we found out what hospital the person was in and sent a card to the family. He also called them to see if there was anything we could do. After going to a house fire where the family lost everything, he found out where the Red Cross placed the family and we took canned goods, blankets, and stuffed animals for the small kids of the family. Firefighting means a lot to him. But also, the safety of others and protecting small kids has always been in his heart. He often has told me , "Mom, it's not the money, it's the satisfaction that you saved someone's home or their lives. And, for them to come up to you and give you a hug or a hand shake, means more than anything." To Steven, that's what it's all about, helping others and knowing that in some small way he has made a difference.

Steven can't ride the trucks yet, which gets to him every time they pull out of the barn. A few Monday nights ago, Steven and I were at the fire department. The Chief was planning a practice drill for the rookies. The tones went out , the rookies cam running out, my son looked at me and said, :Mom, I've got to go". I just said, "Be careful.", I couldn't nor did I have the heart to say no. He went with his walker. Miran, one of the firefighters, helped him get in the back of the squad. Steven took control and started telling them to "get moving, a school is on fire with kids trapped. Let's go!" with the engines running, you could still hear his voice over it all. He was making sure that all gear was on and intact, telling them to pay close attention to the orders and to follow through, to be safe but also save lives. He was so into it; as Mom, it brought tears to my eyes, as it does today. I knew more than anything this was his dream. This was going to be his purpose in life; saving and helping. About 2 hours later, when they returned and they helped him out of the squad, he came walking to me, with the help of his walker, he had the biggest smile on his face and said, "Mom,that felt so good." It made me feel so blessed to know that I have a son like him.

We don't know what the future will hold with this disease, since Steven is the first to ever survive. That's why I know God has plans. On January 3, 2007, the doctors didn't give him but a 1% chance of making it, now he is getting ready to take his last first responder Firefighter test. We still have a long road ahead of us emotionally and physically, but with his determination, I know that he will pull through all this. He knows God pulled him through and has great plans for him. And, like he has said, if for nothing else right now, he will study and help the rookies do what he can't do right now. But I know they will be doing their best, because Steven wants the best. After all, he now has his Mom on the Support Team, so I will be seeing him and the others in action. As I help them with fires and I get informed everyday what I'm supposed to do and not to do; I know all about the fire line and that I better not cross it; he is something else. But, I know his caring is only for protecting. That's his job, even if it's Mom.

If there's anything else you would like to know, let me know. We go to the wound care center every other Thursday, then his primary physician every week, and soon, the Infectious Disease doctor. We have to change the bandages twice a day, which is very costly. Right the cost is running almost $157 a day and his meds are more than $150 a week. With God's Grace we will get through all of this. We Believe in a brighter tomorrow and have Faith that all will be all right. God is good. Steven has told this me since he came off Life Support and he believes it fully. God gave us Yesterday for memories and Tomorrow we will have to see what it brings, but This is the Day is the day that the Lord hath made, we will Rejoice and be glad in it, so what we can to be pleasing in God's eyes.

This is why my son, Firefighter Callicot, is and will always be my Hero. He never looks down. Everything is a learning experience, we just pick up the pieces and make the best of them.

God Bless,

Deb
If you feel your district or station, etc. can help Steve and his mother please contact Tambre Lee, District 1 NW Rep, Santa Rosa Co. Fire Prevention 850-961-7042 or TambreL@co.santa-rosa.fl.us or myself.

Thank You

In His Service, and yours,
Chaplain Woody Bollinger
Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Assc.
Bay Emergency Chaplain Corps
Office 850-872-3053
Cell 850-541-2415

For our God is a consuming fire. Heb 12:29