Testimonials
We invite you to listen in to hear more from our Everyday Heroes as they share their stories, including the struggles, how they survived, and how they learned to build resilience. We salute them for their courage and willingness to be vulnerable in order to continue leading the way and saving lives within our communiti
Mathew Enderlin's Story by Darrell Enderlin
Ron Winegar
Boise Police Department Deputy Chief
"We have the front-row seat to the greatest show on earth and we also have the front-row seat to some of the most tragic and traumatic events.”
Listen in as Boise Police Department Deputy Chief Ron Winegar shares his story of survival after being shot and severely wounded in the line of duty. He is not only a Survivor, he has gone on to continue serving his community, as well as helping others learn to deal with their Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries and to build resilience.
“This is one of the most noble professions that I am aware of and I am grateful to and proud of the fact that I am a Police Officer.”
Frank Beauvais
Nampa Fire Department Captain
You see things and you put it in a little box, you set it aside in your head and you move on, because you have another call to go to...
After 20 years on the job things kind of came to a head. I found that I had completely disengaged emotionally with everyone in my life. I didn’t know what was going on, I just thought that’s part of the job. I started avoiding crowds completely and I started not wanting to be around anyone.
I felt like my wife moving, like just not being married to me, was a better idea because I was just emotionally not available for her and I felt like she deserved more. I never wanted to have my kids see me hurting or in pain.
Nampa City Police and Fire
The Nampa Police and Fire Departments, along with Mayor Debbie Kling’s Office, are Leading the way to build resilience surrounding mental health, especially regarding our Everyday Heroes! We would like to
highlight these agencies as leaders in helping break down those stigmas. Our hope is to give our
Everyday Heroes a voice, and an opportunity to expand the fight to end the skyrocketing rate of suicide within our culture.
Henry 'Hank' Ortiz
Retired Law Enforcement and Ada County District Marshall
"I could hear the rounds hit the wall that I was standing next to. My partner, that was with me was a reserve officer, kept saying, 'are those bullets?' And I said, 'Yes they are.'
This was in the 1970's so we didn't wear body armor, you just relied on your instincts.
I had recurring, terrifying nightmares. The nightmares I had, I was being shot at, I saw myself die. I would wake up screaming. I had her "my wife" there and she would always put her hand on me and tell me it's OK, I'm here, go back to sleep honey, please."
Tonna Marek
Nampa Police Patrol Corporal, 20 years
Trauma is trauma, death is death ... and no, you never get used to it! What these heroes go through each day is unimaginable to most people. They often see more tragedy in one day than most people do in an entire lifetime. Help us honor them and surround them with the support they need!
You will not want to miss her full story! See the link below to listen in as she shares her struggles & triumphs in building resilience.
Alexandro Rangel
United States Marine Corps Veteran
Middleton Fire Department Firefighter
"The bundle, a little girl... its in my arms... its a very tangible evidence of what I had done. Its a very heavy thing to carry... in that moment, and also in the years after.
We need to talk about these things. We need to have tools to overcome them. To give people a fighting chance to live happy and fulfilling lives."
Cameo Akins
Ada County EMS Training Captain
"Everybody always asks you as a paramedic, what is the worst thing you’ve ever seen...and what people don’t realize is that in your mind, you’re thinking why would you even ask me that? I don’t want to recall the worst thing I’ve ever seen and you don’t want to know the worst thing I’ve ever seen because it’s so traumatizing that we hope we don’t remember.”
Dan Nelson
Retired US Army Special Forces Officer
Former Idaho State Police Trooper
“I just never thought I’d have a problem with it, I never thought about not being able to read to my kids...or not being able to drive them or be trusted to watch them on my own.” #Mission43
Captain Kevin Haight
Idaho State Police Statewide Emergency Communications
Champion and impassioned advocate for the recognition of Emergency Communications/Dispatchers across this nation, Idaho State Police Statewide Emergency Communications, Captain Kevin Haight shares his story and fight for our “Heroes of the Headset” the “first” first responders in our communities.
Cortney Lyskoski
Ada County Sheriff's Office Dispatcher
“I have talked to so many desperate and hurting people going through their own hell and wanting the pain of their own life to end... and with only my voice, convince them to step back on the curb, away from the ledge, to put the gun away, leave the pills in the bottle, ultimately make a different choice, I am a lifesaver... and then there are calls in which lives cannot be saved...
There was this one call... I was struggling to click back into CPR instructions to give this poor kid chest compression instructions for his friend, while he sobbed the entire time and begged his friend to come back to life...I am a 911 Dispatcher "
Andrew Collins
US Army Combat Veteran
“Early on, I felt like alone, abandoned...you know like I was the only one kind of dealing with these problems …it took me awhile to understand that I’m not the only one dealing with these problems. And ultimately, you know, the things I did go through were minuscule compared to some of the people I know. Mine was only a small fraction of the apple, but that small fraction impacted me on a big scale. Trying to go the traditional route that I thought would fix it almost ended up being my undoing. I was on 17 pills a day with the VA at one point…and that was not good." (Andrew is now medication FREE!)
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