By Laura French
EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. — After a New York EMT was left paralyzed from surgery complications, his community rallied to raise money and offer support during a long recovery process.
EMT Randy Hoffman, who works with Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Corps, East Hampton Village Ambulance Association and the Springs and Montuak Fire Departments, underwent what was supposed to be a routine spinal operation in December, but experienced bleeding around his spinal cord and spinal shock, which left him unable to move his arms or legs, according to the East Hampton Star.
In the three months since the surgery, Hoffman says he has begun to regain some strength in his right hand, left ankle and right toes, but still has a long recovery process ahead of him.
Hoffman has received an outpouring of support from first responders and other community members, including people he has helped in the past. One woman he helped in 2010 sent him a check for $4,000, and an elderly man who was aided after falling from a ladder sent $25 and letter saying “he doesn’t have any money but he appreciated what I did for him,” Hoffman told the East Hampton Star.
A fundraiser set up by Hoffman’s sister on Facebook raised $50,000 within 24 hours, and a spaghetti dinner fundraiser hosted by the Montuak Fire Department last month sold more than 600 tickets and raised nearly $20,000.
Hoffman is doing two hours of physical therapy per day at a rehab facility and says healthcare staff have told him he is exceeding expectations. He says he believes he will be able to walk again one day.
“As soon as I can get back to working on the ambulance, I want to do that,” Hoffman told the Star.