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First responders have long been known to have an increased risk for suicide secondary to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with a recent Poll by Harris and the University of Phoenix revealing 33% of all first responders being officially diagnosed. In April 2018, the Ruderman Family Foundation released an article stating that in 2017 more first responders died from suicide than in the line of duty. Per the article posted in the New York Daily News, PTSD and depression stemming from exposure to trauma were the top two factors contributing to the higher than usual suicide rates.
One of our own, Gerardo Velasco, who has been an EMT with Medic Ambulance for 4 years and has always taken great pride in serving the communities of Solano County and its residents has recently been severely affected by the rigors associated with PTSD.
Gerardo was on duty one day and dispatched to the scene of a traumatic vehicle accident involving a well-known police officer in the EMS family along with another man killed in the collision. Attempting to be a strong man and brave father, he kept the troubled thoughts racing in his mind to himself and didn’t reach out to anyone about the personal anguish he was feeling inside. The passion for EMS sometimes comes with a price and on August 23, 2018 he reached his breaking point by self-inflicting a severe life-threatening injury to himself. The aftermath led to a trauma activation for emergency care, several hours of cardiothoracic surgery, and hospitalization in the ICU where he continues to recover now.
Thankfully the damage was repaired and he is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries. The long road of healing, recovery, and rehabilitation is now looming ahead of him and it is the hope of this EMS family to help him get back on his feet so he may return to the job he loves so much in serving the people of Solano County. The mounting bills and escalating medical expenses should not interfere with his ability to rise above this personal tragedy. Gerardo is a loving father of a son, Angelo who is 2 years old and a beautiful daughter, Adellai who just turned 6 months old.
As of now, Gerardo is still in the hospital and I will update this site as his path to recovery continues.
It is now our turn to help him just like he has helped so many of us in our time of need. Please join me, our EMS family, friends, and loved ones in raising funds of any amount to assist in Gerardo’s recovery and healing process.
Thank you in advance for all your help.
One of our own, Gerardo Velasco, who has been an EMT with Medic Ambulance for 4 years and has always taken great pride in serving the communities of Solano County and its residents has recently been severely affected by the rigors associated with PTSD.
Gerardo was on duty one day and dispatched to the scene of a traumatic vehicle accident involving a well-known police officer in the EMS family along with another man killed in the collision. Attempting to be a strong man and brave father, he kept the troubled thoughts racing in his mind to himself and didn’t reach out to anyone about the personal anguish he was feeling inside. The passion for EMS sometimes comes with a price and on August 23, 2018 he reached his breaking point by self-inflicting a severe life-threatening injury to himself. The aftermath led to a trauma activation for emergency care, several hours of cardiothoracic surgery, and hospitalization in the ICU where he continues to recover now.
Thankfully the damage was repaired and he is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries. The long road of healing, recovery, and rehabilitation is now looming ahead of him and it is the hope of this EMS family to help him get back on his feet so he may return to the job he loves so much in serving the people of Solano County. The mounting bills and escalating medical expenses should not interfere with his ability to rise above this personal tragedy. Gerardo is a loving father of a son, Angelo who is 2 years old and a beautiful daughter, Adellai who just turned 6 months old.
As of now, Gerardo is still in the hospital and I will update this site as his path to recovery continues.
It is now our turn to help him just like he has helped so many of us in our time of need. Please join me, our EMS family, friends, and loved ones in raising funds of any amount to assist in Gerardo’s recovery and healing process.
Thank you in advance for all your help.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rebecca Lorente
Organizer
Vacaville, CA
Gerardo Velasco
Beneficiary