Local EMS icon Joe Thompson needs your help!

Following an emergent trip to the ER three weeks ago for excruciating abdominal pain, Joe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Since then, they discovered the cancer is also in his liver. With that, he’s been told he only has months to live.

He does plan to receive chemotherapy; however, it is not to extend his life but rather to attempt to make the pain more tolerable.

This news is heartbreaking, not only to him but also to the community he lives within and his family. If you know Joe, you know he is one of the most dedicated and hardworking people.

To us, he is our Lieutenant and a long-time devoted member of Rescue Inc since 1982. At Rescue, Joe is not only family; he is a Lieutenant and EMR as well as the “go-to” guy for everything. He not only has an answer for everything but always is there when you need him, day or night. There isn’t another individual more dedicated to our agency than Joe.

To others, he is dad and grampy. When he is not at Rescue (which is not often), he enjoys spending time with his grandson, going fishing and mowing lawns. In addition, Joe volunteers his time at the Brattleboro Ski Hill as a patroller. He has always loved being busy and giving back to his community.

We all mourn the loss of time we have with him, but we want to make sure we celebrate him while he’s still with us.

We’ve put together this Go-Fund-Me page so that Joe does not have to spend his days worrying about how to pay for medical expenses and other needs as he navigates these tough months ahead. Please contribute if you can; Joe is typically not a taker but a giver, but now’s our chance to give to him.