My name is Brian, and since I was sixteen years old, I dedicated my life to helping others in their moments of greatest need. I entered into the fire service and continued training and educating myself in order to be successful in every situation. I served as a career firefighter and medic, unfortunately, I broke my neck while fighting a fire—and then again, after returning to work too soon. This was something I never imagined would lead to a forced retirement.
My retirement was not by choice. Due to the nature of the job, there are no light-duty positions available in a firefighter’s career, leaving me with no options.
I have undergone 18 life-saving surgeries, and it was a profound adjustment to go from being the one who helps others to being the one in need of help. For the past 20 years, I have relied on an accidental disability pension from the state of New Jersey. Despite my repeated efforts to advocate for change, this pension has never increased to reflect any rising cost of living. My concerns—and those of others in similar situations—have largely gone unheard. It is extremely difficult to constantly hear “NEVER FORGET” while feeling absolutely overlooked. I have reached out to many lawmakers and the media, but my pleas have gone unanswered. Today, I am completely out of money, overwhelmed by medical bills, and struggling to meet all the basic needs of daily life. I can no longer work any job or manage necessary repairs around my home. I am in urgent need of a new roof, landscaping assistance, and help with tasks I am physically unable to complete. Even though I can no longer serve my community in uniform, I continue to support others however I can—offering guidance, encouragement, and advocacy to those facing their own challenges. Asking for help does not come easily to me. After a lifetime of serving others, it is humbling to find myself on the receiving end. However, I have reached a point where I must accept support in order to move onward and forward. I am deeply grateful to anyone who is able to help. Your kindness and generosity will make a meaningful difference in my life, and I promise to “pay it forward”in any way I can and that is an easy promise I can keep. Thank you for reading my story and most importantly thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️B
I have undergone 18 life-saving surgeries, and it was a profound adjustment to go from being the one who helps others to being the one in need of help. For the past 20 years, I have relied on an accidental disability pension from the state of New Jersey. Despite my repeated efforts to advocate for change, this pension has never increased to reflect any rising cost of living. My concerns—and those of others in similar situations—have largely gone unheard. It is extremely difficult to constantly hear “NEVER FORGET” while feeling absolutely overlooked. I have reached out to many lawmakers and the media, but my pleas have gone unanswered. Today, I am completely out of money, overwhelmed by medical bills, and struggling to meet all the basic needs of daily life. I can no longer work any job or manage necessary repairs around my home. I am in urgent need of a new roof, landscaping assistance, and help with tasks I am physically unable to complete. Even though I can no longer serve my community in uniform, I continue to support others however I can—offering guidance, encouragement, and advocacy to those facing their own challenges. Asking for help does not come easily to me. After a lifetime of serving others, it is humbling to find myself on the receiving end. However, I have reached a point where I must accept support in order to move onward and forward. I am deeply grateful to anyone who is able to help. Your kindness and generosity will make a meaningful difference in my life, and I promise to “pay it forward”in any way I can and that is an easy promise I can keep. Thank you for reading my story and most importantly thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️B
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