This is the Story of Kathy Brown as told by a Tucson Fire Captain.

I first met Kathy in 1998. I was a new medic on medic 9. We responded to her as she fell in the intersection of 22nd and Craycroft. When we arrived, all she wanted to do was leave, as a new medic this put me in a dilemma as she was handicapped and would not talk to us. I didn't know if she had the ability to refuse. I could see it was causing her more distress, so we let her walk away. We responded to her numerous times usually for seizures always called in by witnesses never her. She worked at the Taco Bell by station 9 and lived in 9's first in area. I left Station 9 after 3 years and was on Medic 1 for a couple years then returned to medic 9. we responded to her at Hometown Buffet in 9's area for a seizure. When we arrived, I sat down in booth next to her   I remembered her and addressed her by name and talked to her. She was very happy. Little by little she began to come out of her shell and started talking over time. She then started coming to station9 for blood pressure checks. As time went by, she came out of her shell. She told me her story and why she didn't want our help for a long time. Turns out it was because she had a Mother that told her not to be a burden to others. Again, Kathy was handicapped so her mother would not let her do anything for herself. As time went on the crews at 9 taught her to speak out and stand up for herself. They assisted her with many things over the years from helping her move the ladder would put up her Christmas decorations. She attended the chili cook off every year and station 9's booth took good care of her. She attended the firefighters' ball and every year we got her food boxes for thanksgiving and Christmas. She was a regular fixture at 9 and she loved firefighters. Even as crews changed station 9 always took care of her. Her apartment was a shrine to many of the people that helped her. she had pictures of the crews, she had coffee mugs with pictures of station 9 people. Christmas decorations with initials or pictures. It was amazing to see the changes in her over the years. She gained confidence and started standing up for herself. Firefighters could do no wrong in her eyes she referred to all of them her men.  She would tell people she had all these men, but they doubted her until some of us would show up to see her and they would be surprised.  We would celebrate her birthday , visit her when she went to the hospital or physical rehab. She text several of us on a regular basis. It made a difference to so many people. Going to some of the people and horrible calls we respond to; she was a bright spot. It was amazing to see the difference that all the crews made in her life. This past year she was in sapphire so during covid we could not visit.  She survived covid, but her daughter died of it a year ago in Phoenix. She had no other family except for all the TFD firefighters. She passed away this month due to becoming septic. 

I was contacted by one of her caretakers and a nurse from sapphire. As she had no other family the caretaker had filially got her body moved to a funeral home for cremation. We want to have a small memorial for her eventually so any help would be appreciated. 

The Tucson Fire Charities Department would like to assist in paying for Kathy's Funeral Expenses as well as a memorial to this wonderful woman who touched the lives of so may Firefighters through the years.  Any donation is welcome and if this effort is a success, once the funeral is paid for we would would love to setup an education and support grant to help other special needs individuals in Kathy's name as a way to remember what a wonderful person she was.