By Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree
Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Ill.
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — It wasn’t a fire but a neighbor in need that sent South Jacksonville firefighters into action.
Rick Pullam of South Jacksonville underwent surgery in mid-June and was unable to place any weight on his foot, instead relying on a lift chair to help him get up onto crutches or into his wheelchair.
That is until his lift chair broke, leaving him stuck in his wheelchair. His wife, Joy, was willing — but unable — to lift him.
“I feel (firefighters) don’t get the credit they deserve for what they do,” Pullam said. " I want people to know that they went above and beyond.”
Those responding to the call for assistance were Capt. Ryan Deeder, Capt. Edgar Padilla, paramedic Laura Benz and EMT Nick Martin.
The firefighters’ official job was done once Pullam was lifted from his chair, but they took things multiple steps further.
Once Pullam was up, the crew flipped his chair, found the broken part and left.
Pullam said the crew joked with him, asking if he trusted that they would bring it back and saying the Pullams could call the police if they didn’t.
No police were necessary, because the firefighters did return — with a new part for the chair.
“I had asked if they knew anyone that could fix it, but we weren’t expecting them to go out, get the part and install it,” Pullam said. “They won’t even tell us how much it cost so we could pay them. That chair works better now than it has in years.”
The couple sent an email to village representatives, ensuring that the firefighters’ extra effort did not go unnoticed.
“I feel as if there isn’t anything we can’t handle but, on that day, I knew the only thing we could do was call for help,” the email said. “We called for help but what we got was four angels riding in a red truck.”
The email was read during a village board meeting.
Fire Chief Rich Evans said it’s always nice when the department’s members are honored for the work they do in the community, especially work for which they don’t always get recognized.
“Everyone is always thankful, but it’s usually life-threatening emergencies,” Evans said. “You don’t usually hear much outside of that. We are always there to help when we can.”
Evans is proud of his crew for going above and beyond to help the Pullams, he said.
“They were appreciative,” Evans said of the Pullams. “It meant a lot to them that (the firefighters) were recognized that they went out of their typical day-to-day.”
Pullam said he just wanted everyone to know about the dedication of the crew members.
“The village of South Jacksonville should be proud of the job that those folks did for us,” Pullam said in the email. “There isn’t any way that we will ever be able to pay back what those angels did for us, but know in our hearts you will always be in our thoughts and prayers.”
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