by Dan Heidt

1) Where did you grow up and what was it like?
Well I am East Indian but I was born and raised in South Africa. Iam literally a slave descendant from Indians that were brought to South Africa by the British, 151 years ago as slaves. In order to work in
sugar cane plantations and railroad tracks......

I grew up during the Apartheid Era so life was difficult, being a non-white person. Growing up, it was easy for a kid to understand that because of the color of our skin. We were not allowed to go to certain areas where we lived. We were not able to go into a store and buy something that we liked because most places were for white peopleonly. There were only certain places, we as non-white people were allowed into.

 When I completed high school, there were only 2 choices as non-white people, were allowed to go and study. That was either to become a Teacher or a Nurse. One could go to University if you had enough money to go then study what you liked. However, my mom as a singleparent could not afford to send me to study. I disliked both professions so I decided to get a job as an Administrative Clerk.

2) How do you define success?
 My personal definition of success is to always rise above your own standards of excellence. By that I mean, one should always compare
themselves to themselves (their own accomplishments and achievements) and rise above that.

3) Who has had the greatest influence on you?
I would say that my mom and my late fiancé have had the greatest influence on my life.  My mom raised 2 small children on her own and instilled respect, morals and ethics in us. 

My late fiancé (being an Attorney) believed in acquiring an education along with knowledge.
Knowledge is POWER.....

4) Why did you decide to become a Paramedic and where do you see this leading to?
Well, I did not choose to become a Paramedic, it was through DivineIntervention. I was 1 of 50 people selected from 7500 other people, in my state that were chosen to be trained as paramedic. It did not take long for me to fall in love with my profession and I feel blessed to
have been chosen for this calling......

5) Can you tell me where you work and in what capacity is your involvement?
Currently, I work in Afghanistan as a contractual, Remote Site Medic. It’s very different compared to working in South Africa, because in
Afghanistan, I predominantly work in a Clinical Environment treating patients in a more stable secured work area. Where as in South
Africa, I was an Operational Medic, and worked full time on an ambulance. 
 
South Africa has changed over the years, becoming on of the most dangerous places to live in. As a medic, I was assaulted many times by intoxicated patients and our ambulances would get hi-jacked frequently around the country. People seem to have no respect for us. Even though, we risk our lives each and every day in an attempt to help people. So I would say that I am far safer working in Afghanistan than working in South Africa.

6) What have you learned over your life time that you would like to share with others?
I have learned that the greatest gift anyone could give to anotherindividual is a sense that you care. I have come to realize that we
live in a cold cruel world where, care and compassion have become scarcequalities. I believe that it takes just one person to make a
difference and to set an example for others.

7) Are there any causes or organizations that you support?
I’m an avid blood donor. I also support organizations that are trying to stop animal cruelty, an organization that is trying to preserve the Rhino species.  As these animals are frequently being poached for their horns. I also support organizations that care for abandoned babies and children, infected with H.I.V.

8) Is there anything I haven't asked you that you would like to comment on?
Yes.
1. Where do I see my profession leading to? Well in the future I would like to further my studies and become a Flight Doctor and
probably work for an organization such as AIR MERCY.

2. What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? I enjoy traveling, very much. My last trip was to India and I was given a
surprise opportunity to visit the TAJ MAHAL in AGRA. It was the most amazing experience.

9) What is your favorite meal and what do you prefer to drink with it?
My favorite meal is prawns grilled in garlic butter, served on a bed of rice or  with crisp potato wedges. I prefer to have my meal with freshly made orange  juice.

Mitchell Stern, Paramedic

It was September 11th, the day after my sister's birthday. I had been retired since March of 2001, ending a 24 year career in EMS, and I had just opened a restaurant named Uncle Mitche's Kitchen in Travis, Staten Island. As I had been doing since August, I opened the store at 5 AM, and my crew came in at six.

It was a beautiful fall morning, and the drive from one side of Staten Island to the other was fabulous. I got in, started up the grill, and turned on the coffee. And my regulars started to come in. At about 08:50 my wife called the store and told me to put the television on. We all stood in silence as we watched the smoke and flames come out of the tower. The radio was on 10:10 WINS and they stated the fire and police requested all retirees and available
personnel to report to the closest firehouse for mobilization. I told my waitress to hold the fort and I flew home not stopping for any lights, stop signs or any other traffic.

My wife had already pulled my uniform and equipment belt out of the attic when I got home. I donned the uniform and turned on my portable radio which I kept from retirement with blessing from the FDNY Communications Commissioner. I turned to SOD PD and heard the craziness that was on the air. I proceeded to drive to Manhattan. I was on the Gowanus Expressway when my brother-in-law called my cell. "Are you crazy," he said.

 "You don't understand," I responded. "You never worked with these people. This is what's in my heart and soul. I have to go there."

 I understood where he was coming from. I was retired from EMS, I had already fulfilled my obligation, completed my tour, but I knew in my heart it was something I had to do. I hung up the phone and sped down the expressway, through the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Tunnel, and out the other side. I parked right across the street from an area set up for construction personnel and responded to the North tower where they had the unified Command post.

I confronted the chief. "Take care of the treatment sector on West Street," he ordered.

So I proceeded to West Street, and it was about that time that the second plane struck the North Tower. I found an ambulance and was directing the triage and priority treatment of the injured that were streaming to the ambulances. I performed these duties for what seemed eternity. Time just seemed to stop. It was bizarre. One of the EMT's ask me to enter the ambulance and assist with a female burn victim. I jumped in and started working. We heard a low rumble, and then smoke and dirt began to fill the ambulance. The EMT said, "The tower is collapsing!" I had thought we were far enough away and that the tower would tilt back where the plane had struck, but it didn't. It was like
watching a slow motion 8 mm film. The ambulance started being struck with debris. I was sitting in the captain's chair attempting to secure an airway when suddenly the roof began to crush down on us. My helmet took most of the force, but I would find out later that my neck endured some compaction. We had to get low, so I lay down with the EMT on the bench seat. Several minutes passed, then we heard movement outside the truck. Someone was working on the door. And a moment later a firefighter was able to crowbar the door open enough to got us out. 

We ran to the American Express building. It was 9:59 AM. I didn't feel hurt, and I was breathing okay, so I went began to help with search and rescue on the pile. After many hours I went home. 
 
When I got home my uniform was covered in white and gray material. My nose felt like I had been doing concrete work. My wife said my speech was slurred, and she suggested that I see Dr. Tambour. So I went to see him. He sent me to what was then St. Vincent's and they discovered several compressions of my cervical spine and a linear fracture. I was admitted and went to surgery. I came out with rods in my posterior cervical spine and wearing a halo. I was discharged around September 30th.