Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself By Becoming an EMT
9 journalers for this copy...
Five years ago Jane Stern was a walking encyclopedia of panic attacks, depression, and hypochondria. Her marriage of more than thirty years was suffering, and she was virtually immobilized by fear and anxiety. As the daughter of parents who both died before she was thirty, Stern was terrified of illness and death, and despite the fact that her acclaimed career as a food and travel writer required her to spend a great deal of time on airplanes, she suffered from a persistent fear of flying and severe claustrophobia. But a strange thing happened one day on a plane that was grounded at the Minneapolis airport for six horrible, foodless, airless hours. A young man on a trip with his classmates suddenly became dizzy and pale because he hadn’t eaten in many hours, and there was no food left on the plane. Without thinking about it, Jane gave him the candy bar that she had in her purse. A short time later the color had returned to his cheeks, the boy was laughing again with his friends, and Jane realized that this one small act of kindness—helping another person who was suffering—had provided her with comfort and a sense of well-being.
It was shortly thereafter that this fifty-two-year-old writer decided to become an emergency medical technician, eventually coming to be known as Ambulance Girl. Stern tells her story with great humor and poignancy, creating a wonderful portrait of a middle-aged, Woody Allen–ish woman who was “deeply and neurotically terrified of sick and dead people,” but who went out into the world to save other people’s lives as a way of saving her own. Her story begins with the boot camp of EMT training: 140 hours at the hands of a dour ex-marine who took delight in presenting a veritable parade of amputations, hideous deformities, and gross disasters. Jane—overweight and badly out of shape—had to surmount physical challenges like carrying a 250-pound man seated in a chair down a dark flight of stairs. After class she did rounds in the emergency room of a local hospital, where she attended to a schizophrenic kickboxer who had tried to kill his mother that morning and a stockbroker who was taken off the commuter train to Manhattan with delirium tremens so bad it killed him.
Each call Stern describes is a vignette of human nature, often with a life in the balance. From an AIDS hospice to town drunks, yuppie wife beaters to psychopaths, Jane comes to see the true nature and underlying mysteries of a town she had called home for twenty years. Throughout the book we follow her as she gets her sea legs and finally bonds with the burly, handsome firefighters who become her colleagues. At the end, she is named the first woman officer of the department—a triumph we joyously share with her.
Ambulance Girl is an inspiring story by a woman who found, somewhat late in life, that “in helping others I learned to help myself.” It is a book to be treasured and shared.
It was shortly thereafter that this fifty-two-year-old writer decided to become an emergency medical technician, eventually coming to be known as Ambulance Girl. Stern tells her story with great humor and poignancy, creating a wonderful portrait of a middle-aged, Woody Allen–ish woman who was “deeply and neurotically terrified of sick and dead people,” but who went out into the world to save other people’s lives as a way of saving her own. Her story begins with the boot camp of EMT training: 140 hours at the hands of a dour ex-marine who took delight in presenting a veritable parade of amputations, hideous deformities, and gross disasters. Jane—overweight and badly out of shape—had to surmount physical challenges like carrying a 250-pound man seated in a chair down a dark flight of stairs. After class she did rounds in the emergency room of a local hospital, where she attended to a schizophrenic kickboxer who had tried to kill his mother that morning and a stockbroker who was taken off the commuter train to Manhattan with delirium tremens so bad it killed him.
Each call Stern describes is a vignette of human nature, often with a life in the balance. From an AIDS hospice to town drunks, yuppie wife beaters to psychopaths, Jane comes to see the true nature and underlying mysteries of a town she had called home for twenty years. Throughout the book we follow her as she gets her sea legs and finally bonds with the burly, handsome firefighters who become her colleagues. At the end, she is named the first woman officer of the department—a triumph we joyously share with her.
Ambulance Girl is an inspiring story by a woman who found, somewhat late in life, that “in helping others I learned to help myself.” It is a book to be treasured and shared.
Sending directly from BetterWorldBooks to the Happy Day RABCK winner - stringofpearls! Hope you enjoy this wishlist book, it looks interesting!
This arrived today - thanks, Rhonder! It does look interesting. I'm looking forward to reading it soon!
I was drawn to this because it's the true story of a woman my age who jumps into an unlikely new career by the seat of her pants. Not sure how she stuck with it. Sending the book to MyssCyn who is also indefatigable (had to use a thesaurus to find the perfect word)
:)
:)
Wow, I actually know what indefatigable means. Thank you! I call it being a bulldog.
I love the description of the book and will shoot it to the top of my Mt. TBR.
Thanks so much for the book and also for letting me whine and complain so often.
I love the description of the book and will shoot it to the top of my Mt. TBR.
Thanks so much for the book and also for letting me whine and complain so often.
I truly enjoyed this book. I loved that the author, a writer for Gourmet magazine, overcame her fears and just pushed on through to become an EMT. Her story shows that you can do anything you set your mind to and it illustrates that you never know what is going on in a persons life unless they tell you.
I wish she had included her husband in the story a bit more. It isn't until the end of the story that we hear he has his own hidden demons.
Thanks for this great read!
I wish she had included her husband in the story a bit more. It isn't until the end of the story that we hear he has his own hidden demons.
Thanks for this great read!
Sending off as a wishlist tag.
Thanks for tagging me....adding to mt tbr.
Sent from Flossie771 for my: Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox. Thank you for the extra books!
Journal Entry 10 by JennyC1230 at A Fellow BookCrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Friday, April 17, 2015
Released 8 yrs ago (4/17/2015 UTC) at A Fellow BookCrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
If you have found this book, welcome to Bookcrossing and thank you for taking the time to let us know about its journey. Feel free to enjoy the book and pass it along to a friend, neighbor, family member or co-worker, or simply leave it somewhere for another lucky reader to enjoy as you did! This book isn’t your type of read? No problem, don't feel obliged to read it, just be kind enough to help it on its journey.
Sending to Booklady331 from the Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox Enjoy the books!
Sending to Booklady331 from the Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox Enjoy the books!
The book arrived today. Thank you for sharing with me. I am looking forward to reading it.
this is about a lady who overcame her fear and did what she did not expect to do. As someone who had to fight for overcoming fear in their lives I could relate to her in some way. I will pass it so I'm probably one of the virtual boxes.
Enjoy! KTM book off to NancyNova for the ABC VBB box. Trust you enjoy the book.
Love the way the title is printed - and this book has been through a few hands! Adding to Mt Toobie for now.
It didn't take long to find a match for this book! Just pulled for a wishlist tag - will read then forward it on.
From a bookbox, A gourmet magazine writer, who goes into panic attacks on planes decides in her 50s to become an EMT. Quite funny, I suppose because I too trained as an EMT and worked as a nurse. I totally get the macabre humor, as she describes her training and her "firsts" on the runs. Now off to another reader as a wishlist tag.
Journal Entry 17 by NancyNova at ~ RABCK ~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Saturday, March 5, 2016
Released 8 yrs ago (3/5/2016 UTC) at ~ RABCK ~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
From the wishlist tag game. Enjoy!
If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it. Then, when you are ready, pass it along for someone else to enjoy! Thanks and happy reading!
If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it. Then, when you are ready, pass it along for someone else to enjoy! Thanks and happy reading!
Thanks, NancyNova! This was on my wishlist for quite a while.
Great to see such a well-traveled book!
Great to see such a well-traveled book!
I read this several months ago and really enjoyed it. It’s a quick read, but a moving one. I could identify with some of Stern’s feelings and issues and greatly admire her courage.
I’ve known a couple people who were EMT's and their work stories were both interesting and frightening. [I served as “victim” to one friend’s practical exam, chosen because – back then (smile) – I was slim and lightweight, good for being “boarded” for spinal immobilization, lifted, etc. I learned a lot and had fun.] Like many, I think, she had to give it up after a few years because of lower back and knee issues – not to mention emotional burnout. The pay didn’t seem adequate for such a demanding job – unless things have changed for the better in recent years.
Recommended!
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Reserved for booklady331's Nonfiction VBB.
I’ve known a couple people who were EMT's and their work stories were both interesting and frightening. [I served as “victim” to one friend’s practical exam, chosen because – back then (smile) – I was slim and lightweight, good for being “boarded” for spinal immobilization, lifted, etc. I learned a lot and had fun.] Like many, I think, she had to give it up after a few years because of lower back and knee issues – not to mention emotional burnout. The pay didn’t seem adequate for such a demanding job – unless things have changed for the better in recent years.
Recommended!
-----------------------------
Reserved for booklady331's Nonfiction VBB.
On its way to elizardbreath via booklady331's Nonfiction VBB. Hope you enjoy it!
Released for Keep Them Moving Challenge hosted by booklady331.
DEAR FINDER,
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Please make a journal entry so we know this book has found a new home.You don't need to join BookCrossing and you can remain completely anonymous. However, we encourage you to join so that you can follow this book's future travels. (You’ll receive an email anytime someone makes a journal entry). It's fun, free, and confidential. If you decide to join, consider listing eponine38 as referring you.
Take your time reading the book, and after you finish, please make another journal entry to record your thoughts about it. This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, though we would love for you to share it. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it “in the wild”, or a journal entry if you gave/sent it to a known person.
I hope you enjoy the book!
Released for Keep Them Moving Challenge hosted by booklady331.
DEAR FINDER,
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Please make a journal entry so we know this book has found a new home.You don't need to join BookCrossing and you can remain completely anonymous. However, we encourage you to join so that you can follow this book's future travels. (You’ll receive an email anytime someone makes a journal entry). It's fun, free, and confidential. If you decide to join, consider listing eponine38 as referring you.
Take your time reading the book, and after you finish, please make another journal entry to record your thoughts about it. This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, though we would love for you to share it. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it “in the wild”, or a journal entry if you gave/sent it to a known person.
I hope you enjoy the book!
Thank you so much for sending this my way. I'm looking forward to reading it. But do you know what I'm absolutely THRILLED about??!!!! This 1886 bookmark you included! I have never seen a legit bookmark from the Victorian era---I'm SO excited! Thank you, friend!
Journal Entry 22 by elizardbreath at Casey's At The Highlands in Bella Vista, Arkansas USA on Friday, October 19, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (10/18/2018 UTC) at Casey's At The Highlands in Bella Vista, Arkansas USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Released in a bag near the front door.
To the finder of this book:
This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.
If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!
I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.
Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)
To the finder of this book:
This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.
If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!
I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.
Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)