After over a decade of service in EMS, mother of two Jen Mcfalls found herself in a near death situation on the floor of the ambulance she spent so many shifts in. On June 1st, Mcfalls responded to a call in the Upper Darby area for a possible overdose. The patient confirmed he had used PCP, a powerful drug that elicits unpredictable reactions that can change in an instant. Initially calm, peaceful, and cooperative, the patient was assisted into the ambulance where transport was initiated to Lankenau Hospital. While assessing the patient’s blood pressure, Mcfalls noticed a change in his demeanor. Being familiar with the reactions the drug can cause, she got up to move away from the patient to the seat behind the stretcher. Before she could safely reposition herself, the patient grabbed her and forced her to the floor. He then proceeded to strangle her with both hands as her screams for help were heard across the county over the radio. Her partner was able to pull over and ultimately wrestle the patient off of Jen, but not before that patient created an experience she would not recover from without challenge.
Since this horrifying incident, Mcfalls has struggled to get back on the ambulance. As those in EMS, fire, and police know, overtime pay is often how we make ends meet. Without that option, the bills have started to pile up. In addition to her losing her prescription glasses in the attack, she has mounting household and medical bills from her special needs son and has been unable to fully return to work due to the trauma and psychological effects of the situation. On top of this, Mcfalls’ mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and was recovering from surgery at her daughter’s house the morning of the incident. She recently lost her cousin to a genetic disease and the family was forced to take him off life support. She has a disabled son who requires frequent hospitalizations and constant therapy.
Paying bills is the last thing Jen needs to be concerned with. Please help however you can to help her and her family heal from this incident and move forward with their lives.