MedStar paramedics can encounter every emotional extreme when they arrive at a patient's home -- except, perhaps, joy and celebration.
On Thanksgiving, Barbara McClure was the center of attention as she was surrounded by many members of this four-generation family.
And MedStar was the reason she was able to attend the family celebration. McClure had a seizure two years ago, and eventually moved to a nursing home.
"It's almost like being paralyzed," her daughters said. "She can't stand up at all. You have to lift her completely."
The family this year lacked the specialized vehicle, equipment and personnel it would take to safely get her to her daughter's home in Fort Worth for Thanksgiving dinner.
"You've seen how much trouble it was getting me on this thing," McClure said.
Her daughters, Beth Karpinski and Diana Newell, said they were worried.
"It's horrible to think that we would not be able to have her here," they said. "I don't think we would be able to have it."
Then, the family heard about MedStar's "Home for the Holidays" program, using paramedics already set aside to handle non-emergency calls.
"Our goal was to bring together families that either have mobility or medical limitations, and wouldn't normally be able to be all together for the holiday," said Lara Kohl of MedStar.
"I thought that was grand," McClure said.
Too soon, of course, it was time to go. But MedStar hopes this will be the first of many happy holidays it can make happen.
