I would like to introduce you to JJ, also known as John Johnson, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in Iraq in 2009. JJ and I met as firefighters at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, while working with WSI. JJ currently resides in Cape Coral, Florida, where he landed his dream job about a year and a half ago with his local Fire Department. He took a job working for Collier County EMS as a stepping stone to further his career. After applying to local fire departments, he was hired by Pine Island Fire Department, where he worked for about one and a half to two years. When an opening came up with his current department, he quickly applied and went through the process, eventually getting hired. Upon completing their fire academy, he worked at many stations throughout the city to familiarize himself with the department, the city, and to get to know the men and women he would get to know as his second family. JJ was as happy as I have ever seen him. Then, last October 2024, a catastrophic accident occurred. A tree stand that JJ was hunting from collapsed over 10 feet high. Had JJ not realized what was happening and gotten into the position he did, he could have had life-threatening injuries or possibly died right there on the spot. However, JJ fell to the ground feet first, and as soon as he hit, he rolled, shattering his right leg tib and fib right at the ankle. Then the nightmare really began. Surgery after surgery, complication after complication, has been going on for almost a year. While all this is going on, his wife, Chelsea has taken on everything, as JJ has been non-weight-bearing since the accident and unable to work. JJ and Chelsea also have a toddler who is autistic and requires special therapy (ABA) three to five times a week. I know this is not an inexpensive treatment, plus he's in a special class. Their son was put into ABA therapy at just over one year old; they said he was the youngest they had treated. Because of Chelsea and JJ's quick thinking, they got him into early intervention services to give him the best chance possible as he grew. Now, more heartbreak has come. Chelsea is undergoing diagnostics and procedures that she travels to Jacksonville for every few weeks due to a debilitating chronic illness, and a recently discovered precancerous condition that was thankfully caught early and is treatable. I'm not going to get into the specifics, but I do know she has 22 appointments scheduled between today, 06/01/25, and 07/11/25 for treatment and testing.
What we can do is pray and pray hard for the family, especially Chelsea, at this time. I hope you can find it in your hearts to give a little; you don't have to give a lot, but you can if you find it in your heart. A little bit adds up. Let us rally around this incredible family and shower them with love, support, and generosity. Every small act of kindness can bring hope and joy to JJ, Chelsea, and their son during this challenging time.
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