By EMS1 Staff
WACO, Texas — A fundraiser was held to help a paramedic who lost a leg while in the line of duty with the out-of-pocket costs of a prosthetic.
Waco Tribune-Herald reported that the community raised $5,000 for Rory Barros, who was critically injured in a crash at the scene of another crash on Aug. 19.
Barros hopes to return to work after finishing rehab in a couple of years with the help of a high-tech military prosthetic that could cost upwards of $200,000.
“I am not going to let this define me,” Barros said. “I am not going to let it dictate what I do. I was in the hospital for four months and three days, had 16 surgeries, and was in the ICU for over three weeks. But I am definitely going back. I have to finish to prove to myself I can finish.”
The fundraiser was held at Lakeshore Tavern, where supporters and colleagues, including Barros’ supervisor, Janine Nice, gathered to raise money for Barros and his wife, Amy.
https://www.facebook.com/janine.nice/posts/2199068303444648
“The cost of keeping him hospitalized and taking care of him so he is back to health has to be phenomenal, so this will help offset the cost of the prosthetic leg he needs to get back to his normal life,” Nice said. “He is such a positive person; I and his co-workers want to do everything we can to help.”
Barros said another reason he is determined to return to his EMS career is to give back to the people that have helped him through his difficult time.
“That is one of the reasons I want to go back to work — to thank [the people of] Waco who have come together to help their first responders,” Barros said. “This is what I want to do and I feel like I have to go back. I want to prove to myself I can do it.”
Barros said he isn’t sure yet how much insurance will cover for the prosthetic leg, but he and Amy are determined to stay positive.
“We aren’t going to let this change our lives for the worse,” Amy said. ”We are going to get on with our lives and he is going to get back to doing what he wants to do.”
Over $14,000 has also been raised on a GoFundMe for the Barros family. Click here to donate.