Some good news for a change........
Paralyzed Firefighter Walks Into Beach Waters
HOLLYWOOD BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A local firefighter is defying the odds after he took his first steps at sea after an accident left him paralyzed.Hollywood firefighter Derek Avilez walked into the waters of Hollywood Beach on Friday, which marked the one-year anniversary of his accident.
Exactly one year ago, the 32-year-old was skimboarding when he landed on his head during a flip and broke his neck. "I was floating face down, and I remember trying to turn over, but I was instantly paralyzing, and I remember telling God, 'God, please take care of my family,'" Avilez said.Avilez' wife Priscilla and several off-duty firefighters rushed to his aid and pulled him out of the water. Priscilla Avilez said, "That's when I ran into the water, and I saw him turning blue, so I picked him up, and I started screaming."The father of three became paralyzed as a result of the accident. He spent months in the hospital but returned home, where he has been working on his recovery. Avilez has also been taking part in a rehabilitation program, but his insurance money for the program has run out. "The insurance only gave me 30 visits, and 30 visits is fine if you have a broken leg, but for a bruised spinal cord and a quadriplegic,that's not enough," said Avilez.
Doctors told Avilez that he would never be able to breathe without a ventilator, move his arms or walk again. However, Avilez has beat the odds and took his first steps a few weeks ago with the help of a walker and a rehab center employee. He admits that he still has a long way to go. "I still can't get [my hand] up to my mouth, so I can say that's the next big step," Avilez said. "My left leg, I can move a lot better, and my right leg is getting there."
On Friday, the three firefighters that helped Avilez on the day of the accident escorted him into the beach waters. Other Hollywood firefighters also came out to support their comrade. One of the firefighters, Hank Olmetti, said,"Just to see him walk into that water like that and then walk back out on his own, the feeling was just incredible."
Rick Arndt, another firefighter who helped Avilez, said, "He has tremendous willpower. He is the most positive person I've ever met, and you know what? It's just going to get better from today."
Avilez said, he could not feel the temperature of the water because of his paralysis, but he could feel the small waves rush up against his legs and the sand in between his toes. However, Avilez was grateful to be surrounded by his wife and three children during such a miraculous event. "It was awesome, it really was. It was a very big step for me. It was really good to get back in that water," he said. "The last time we were at the beach was pretty traumatic, but now, they're back, and it's a fun time."
According to Avilez, he plans to go to the beach more often and hopes that he will be able to get into the water on his own. One of his ultimate goals is to become a Hollywood firefighter once again.
Following Avilez' triumphant walk, a celebration was held to raise funds for his medical expenses.
The Avilez family is asking for help to pay for his rehab sessions. If anyone would like to donate, you can do so by writing a check payable to:
Hollywood Professional Firefighters
c/o Derek Avilez
310 S. 62nd Ave.
Hollywood, FL 33023
(Copyright 2011 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Read more: http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/lo...#ixzz1ZUttcCTkParalyzed firefighter walks into beach waters
Dttmmh: the song bananaphone
my red menace used to laugh his head off at it as a baby. I have amazing memories of singing it to hum while he was eating bbaby food in his high chair
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/sacreddiamond
it would make me happy if a few of you could sign this petition. its as easy as typing your name and location and clicking.
Sacred Diamond Tattoo recently had our windows hand painted by a traveling artist. We are quite happy with how they turned out and have received a fair amount of walk by business as well as praise from current customers and the surrounding community. Unfortunately, due to the complaints of one business owner in our shopping district we are being asked to remove our newly painted artwork.
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By signing this petition in support of Sacred Diamond Tattoo, I express that I do not agree with the decision to force this small, locally owned and operated business to change its window decor. In signing I also express my love and devotion to freedom, liberty, and the free market; believe that interfering with a business in such a way that prevents them from operating as they see fit due to arbitrary aesthetic tastes to be a gross breach in ethics.
We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge whoever has the authority to belie the order to change the window decor to use good judgment and reverse the decision.
yes, thats it. i think it look great. i don't understand what all the fuss is about.
i don't know how long they've been there, not more than a few years if that. its not my shop, but i know some people who work there and they do great work.
DTTMMH: Lady Gaga's "You and I" song. I think it shows just how much talent she has vocally. Oh, and Joe Calderone I know people don't "get it" but I love the whole thing.
Suzanne Knight (21) brutally raped and devoured 3 toddlers while on a meth binge before hanging herself Marky69: If those toddlers didnt want to be eaten then they shouldnt of looked so god damned delicious. RIP Suzanne
Emmie, let me know what 'location' to use. I assume Iowa, but where in Iowa.
Thanks Emmie. I signed and also shared it to my Facebook and Twitter.
Last edited by Key West Digger; 10-01-2011 at 05:37 PM.
Perhaps it's the fact that Sacred and Tattoo appear together? Many religions find tattoos to be a desecration of the body that God gave you (although the same people have no issues with makeup or plastic surgery). Are you in a super hypocritical religious community?
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