Help Firefighter and Pilot Pay Medical Debt

My name is Charla Lower, and I have spent my career in service to the people (and animals) of our nation. I have worked as a Type 1 “hot shot” firefighter, wilderness ski guide and business operator, search and rescue volunteer, avalanche and ski instructor, EMT on ski patrol, wildlife biology technician, wildlife pilot, and Air Attack Pilot helping to oversee fires from the air. The latter job is where my life dramatically changed. I had been fighting fires for 25 years without a hitch but had never experienced anything like this.

In September 2012, as an Air Attack Pilot my career and ability to work ended when I flew for a month through the mega fire in central Washington. 111 lightning strikes ignited and formed one giant fire, destroying 100 homes. In addition to the organic matter (burning trees and shrubs), chemicals, plastics, fuels and heavy metal toxins from man made items combined to create a ¼ mile inversion which literally caused “off the charts” EPA air quality - there is no rating above hazardous. Prolonged exposure to this toxic smoke shut my body down; it literally damaged my DNA.

I have not been able to maintain gainful employment since 2012. My once healthy, very physically active self (i.e. hiking 5-20 miles per day doing wildlife research) has shifted to a person who struggles with a variety of changeable symptoms: pain to difficulty breathing, fatigue to brain fog, and nausea. In reading about Gulf War Veterans and 911 First Responders, I realize my illnesses and symptoms are very similar.

I have spent the better part of the last 8 years working to get my health back and my life back, and have visited countless doctors in 5 different states doing many treatments. Some of the treatments provided temporary symptom relief that allowed me to work short-term jobs, but none have successfully treated the underlying diseases. 

With my inability to work and my great needs, my medical debt and ongoing living expenses have continued mounting. In addition, I was denied disability/medicaid and have not been granted unemployment benefits or worker’s compensation. How did this happen? As a contract fire pilot, I was flying the lead U.S. Forest Service official on the fire. However, I was not a U.S. Forest Service Employee, so I didn’t receive the benefits of a disabled government employee. Today I should be receiving medical disability, however I have not been able to secure any income for myself despite my tireless efforts.

What is my hope? I am hopeful that the new field of environmental medicine may provide answers. I am hopeful that I will raise $60,000 to pay for: ongoing medical treatments not covered by insurance, pay off medical debt, and help me lay the foundation to support myself again - pay my month-to-month expenses.

Let me tell you a short story about hope and my roots. My mom spent her career as a registered nurse practitioner (RNP), in service to others in hospitals, clinics, and mental health facilities.  Her life turned around when as medical director for the U.S. Peace Corps volunteers in Mauritania, West Africa she became quadriplegic from an accident. In an instant she went from service provider to patient. 

Between seasons when I couldn’t work, I traveled home (and eventually moved back) to help care and advocate for her. I was amazed at my mom’s ‘can do’ attitude, the way she blessed people with her smile and laughter, and how she left this earth in May 2019 full of joy.

Like my mom, I have always been a glass half-full person. Thanks for helping me along this journey and for supporting me in making a fresh start!