1 00:00:04,180 --> 00:00:09,020 Speaker 1: Hello friends, welcome to Story Behind Podcast. This is the 2 00:00:09,060 --> 00:00:12,260 Speaker 1: show for people who love hearing a good story and 3 00:00:12,300 --> 00:00:15,700 Speaker 1: who believe the world could use more positivity. We're the 4 00:00:15,740 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: team behind God Updates and God Too, and we hope 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,540 Speaker 1: these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 6 00:00:27,460 --> 00:00:31,390 Speaker 2: Restless hearts, it has been a long time Out here 7 00:00:31,450 --> 00:00:34,910 Speaker 2: on the journey for a glimpse of paradise, it's getting 8 00:00:34,970 --> 00:00:39,669 Speaker 2: hard to find a place to go where peaceful waters flow. 9 00:00:40,729 --> 00:00:43,809 Speaker 2: Welcome back to The Story Behind. I'm your host, Sean McAvoy. 10 00:00:43,850 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 2: And I re-heard those lyrics from an old favorite called 11 00:00:47,620 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 2: Where Peaceful Waters Float by Krista Berg this morning. And 12 00:00:50,860 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: it really resonated me as far as what we try 13 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 2: to do here on The Story Behind. Give you some 14 00:00:56,220 --> 00:01:00,390 Speaker 2: moments of peace and hope. with good stories that are 15 00:01:00,430 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 2: still happening behind what you may be seeing in your headlines. 16 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: And it's interesting thinking about water this morning and how 17 00:01:07,900 --> 00:01:10,539 Speaker 2: it can give us peace and how reminiscent that is 18 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: of Psalm 23, that he leads us besides still waters. 19 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 2: But water can also put out fires in our lives, 20 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 2: of course. And today I have lined up two stories 21 00:01:20,660 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: about firefighters, some of our favorite people in our communities, 22 00:01:24,860 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: some of our first responders and heroes. And with that teaser, 23 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,260 Speaker 2: I'll be back in just a moment with those firefighter 24 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:39,759 Speaker 2: stories for you. All right, our first story of this 25 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,570 Speaker 2: episode of The Story Behind, brought to you by gottube.com, 26 00:01:43,590 --> 00:01:46,770 Speaker 2: where you can watch without worry, is written by Heather Regelman, 27 00:01:47,350 --> 00:01:49,310 Speaker 2: and it's about a firefighter who was able to save 28 00:01:49,350 --> 00:01:54,130 Speaker 2: his own daughter after receiving a crash alert. Father and 29 00:01:54,150 --> 00:01:58,190 Speaker 2: a firefighter saved Heather. his daughter, after receiving a crash alert. 30 00:01:59,050 --> 00:02:03,470 Speaker 2: In one terrifying moment, a father went from answering emergencies 31 00:02:03,530 --> 00:02:07,210 Speaker 2: for strangers to racing toward the one call he prayed 32 00:02:07,250 --> 00:02:11,290 Speaker 2: he'd never receive, his own daughter's. Every daddy knows he 33 00:02:11,330 --> 00:02:13,750 Speaker 2: would move heaven and earth for his little girl. He'd 34 00:02:13,810 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 2: carry her when she couldn't walk, fight every battle he could, 35 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,459 Speaker 2: and if given the chance, stand between her and danger. 36 00:02:21,110 --> 00:02:25,370 Speaker 2: For St. Louis Fire Captain Jake Brockenheimer's kind of fatherly 37 00:02:25,410 --> 00:02:29,690 Speaker 2: love to protect didn't disappear when his daughter turned 17. 38 00:02:29,690 --> 00:02:34,450 Speaker 2: If anything, it only grew stronger. On a stormy Tuesday night, 39 00:02:35,030 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: how many stories begin that way? Jake's phone suddenly displayed 40 00:02:39,510 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: an Apple crash alert from his daughter, Alyssa Brockmeyer. The 41 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 2: notification pinpointed exactly where the accident had happened, and in 42 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: an instant, A firefighter's training collided with a father's deepest fear. 43 00:02:52,180 --> 00:02:55,220 Speaker 2: Just minutes from home, Alyssa had lost control of her 44 00:02:55,260 --> 00:02:59,510 Speaker 2: vehicle on the rain-slicked pavement. We threw our shoes on 45 00:02:59,570 --> 00:03:02,530 Speaker 2: and we were out the door, Jake said. It was 46 00:03:02,810 --> 00:03:05,889 Speaker 2: wet pavement and she was kind of coming around a 47 00:03:05,990 --> 00:03:09,740 Speaker 2: curve and she just skidded right into the truck coming 48 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,660 Speaker 2: the other way. So she just slid across the lanes 49 00:03:13,780 --> 00:03:16,740 Speaker 2: into the front of his truck, he recalled in that 50 00:03:16,820 --> 00:03:21,420 Speaker 2: terrifying moment. When he arrived, there wasn't time to process 51 00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 2: what he was seeing. There was only time to save 52 00:03:25,060 --> 00:03:28,020 Speaker 2: his little girl. He pulled his little girl from the wreckage, 53 00:03:28,220 --> 00:03:31,180 Speaker 2: and his training kicked in as he began CPR when 54 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,370 Speaker 2: he couldn't find a pulse. Although fellow firefighters have praised 55 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,650 Speaker 2: Jake as a hero, he quickly turns the attention to 56 00:03:38,970 --> 00:03:43,690 Speaker 2: everyone who responded that night. He believes their fast action 57 00:03:43,750 --> 00:03:47,290 Speaker 2: gave his daughter the chance she needed. As the Brockmire 58 00:03:47,330 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 2: family walks through the uncertainty of recovery, Jake hopes other 59 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,900 Speaker 2: families will take one simple step that could one day 60 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 2: make all the difference. Standing faithfully by her bedside, Jake 61 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 2: continues to speak words every daughter longs to hear from 62 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,870 Speaker 2: her dad. We just keep telling her, keep fighting girl, 63 00:04:05,230 --> 00:04:09,130 Speaker 2: keep fighting girl, he said. He has strong advice for 64 00:04:09,190 --> 00:04:12,450 Speaker 2: all parents and adds, I would just say, make sure 65 00:04:12,490 --> 00:04:15,270 Speaker 2: your emergency contacts are up to date in your Apple account. 66 00:04:15,940 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 2: Everybody's got iPhones now? It was great to get the 67 00:04:19,020 --> 00:04:21,820 Speaker 2: notification right away, and we were lucky enough to get 68 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 2: there as quickly as we did. Alyssa's story is a 69 00:04:25,060 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 2: powerful reminder that technology and apps like Life360 can be 70 00:04:29,980 --> 00:04:33,930 Speaker 2: an incredible tool in an emergency. But even more, it's 71 00:04:33,970 --> 00:04:36,790 Speaker 2: a reminder of a father's love, a love that runs 72 00:04:37,310 --> 00:04:41,170 Speaker 2: toward danger without a second thought, refuses it to stop fighting, 73 00:04:41,770 --> 00:04:45,170 Speaker 2: and never stops believing that hope is stronger than fear. 74 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: Please join us in praying for Alyssa as she continues 75 00:04:49,180 --> 00:04:52,530 Speaker 2: her long journey toward healing and for the family standing 76 00:04:52,630 --> 00:04:56,230 Speaker 2: faithfully beside her every step of the way. As it 77 00:04:56,270 --> 00:05:00,130 Speaker 2: says in Psalm 31, 24, Be strong and take heart, 78 00:05:00,620 --> 00:05:04,300 Speaker 2: all you who hope in the Lord. We'll be back 79 00:05:04,339 --> 00:05:22,690 Speaker 2: in just a moment with our second firefighter story. Welcome 80 00:05:22,730 --> 00:05:28,730 Speaker 2: back to our firefighter-centric episode of The Story Behind at LifeAudio.com. 81 00:05:29,310 --> 00:05:31,990 Speaker 2: I'm Sean McAvoy, and I have a story for you 82 00:05:32,050 --> 00:05:36,950 Speaker 2: now by Michaela Gordonei about a community that rallied around 83 00:05:36,980 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 2: a firefighter after his wife's death following a rare cancer battle. 84 00:05:42,500 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 2: When a first responder in Miami-Dade County, Florida, lost his 85 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 2: wife to a rare form of cancer, his community made 86 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: sure he felt their support. His wife died just days 87 00:05:55,060 --> 00:05:58,930 Speaker 2: after giving birth to their daughter, who, as of this writing, 88 00:05:58,990 --> 00:06:02,450 Speaker 2: remains in the NICU. Now a single dad to an 89 00:06:02,610 --> 00:06:07,450 Speaker 2: infant and a 10-year-old, Joshua's friends, family, and even strangers 90 00:06:07,529 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 2: in Miami-Dade want him to know that the community supports him. 91 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 2: Fireman Joshua Jean's wife, Santina, 33, passed away on June 92 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,660 Speaker 2: 6th after delivering her baby prematurely at 24 weeks. It 93 00:06:21,740 --> 00:06:23,779 Speaker 2: would be more than a week later that he learned 94 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:28,670 Speaker 2: his community raised over $ 100, 000 to help him and his 95 00:06:28,730 --> 00:06:32,750 Speaker 2: family during his time of grieving. Fortunately, with a good 96 00:06:32,810 --> 00:06:36,250 Speaker 2: team at Baptist, they waited for a good gestational age 97 00:06:36,370 --> 00:06:39,390 Speaker 2: so that way they can get our baby and try 98 00:06:39,430 --> 00:06:43,410 Speaker 2: to save my wife, Joshua explained. They did great on 99 00:06:43,510 --> 00:06:47,410 Speaker 2: both ends. Everything was on an uprise, but then the 100 00:06:47,430 --> 00:06:52,950 Speaker 2: leukemia was aggressive, so it overwhelmed her eventually. Joshua and 101 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,260 Speaker 2: Santina had suffered several miscarriages and were delighted when they 102 00:06:57,300 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 2: found out they were pregnant with their baby Anaya. While 103 00:07:00,900 --> 00:07:03,660 Speaker 2: Santina was pregnant, they discovered a lump on her neck, 104 00:07:04,339 --> 00:07:08,450 Speaker 2: and she was diagnosed with leukemia and a rare, aggressive 105 00:07:08,850 --> 00:07:14,770 Speaker 2: TP53 mutation. Unfortunately, Santina was isolated through much of her 106 00:07:14,830 --> 00:07:17,390 Speaker 2: treatment and wasn't able to spend much time with her 107 00:07:17,430 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 2: loved ones before she passed. Not even knowing the amount 108 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: of donations, Joshua says the prayers his community prayed for 109 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 2: them were enough, and he doesn't know what else to 110 00:07:28,700 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 2: say other than thank you, and wrote a letter to 111 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:36,420 Speaker 2: everyone sharing his thanks. He'd known Santina since they were 112 00:07:36,460 --> 00:07:39,750 Speaker 2: both 15 years old, and he remembers that every day 113 00:07:39,810 --> 00:07:43,950 Speaker 2: with her always had laughter. In addition to a GoFundMe, 114 00:07:43,990 --> 00:07:48,430 Speaker 2: Joshua's friends have also organized an Amazon baby registry for 115 00:07:48,470 --> 00:07:51,989 Speaker 2: things Anaya will need when she comes home. It's terribly 116 00:07:52,110 --> 00:07:54,450 Speaker 2: sad what happened to this family, but in the midst 117 00:07:54,490 --> 00:07:57,610 Speaker 2: of their grief, it's wonderful that they get to celebrate 118 00:07:58,150 --> 00:08:02,420 Speaker 2: a new life. Joshua's community's actions are a great example 119 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,420 Speaker 2: of exactly what should happen when a tragedy like this occurs. 120 00:08:07,470 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 2: As it says in Psalm 34, 17 and 18, the 121 00:08:11,060 --> 00:08:14,340 Speaker 2: righteous cry out and the Lord hears them. He delivers 122 00:08:14,380 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 2: them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to 123 00:08:17,460 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 2: the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 124 00:08:22,340 --> 00:08:25,190 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us this week on this special firefighter 125 00:08:25,230 --> 00:08:28,310 Speaker 2: episode of The Story Behind. We'll be back in a 126 00:08:28,350 --> 00:08:31,550 Speaker 2: couple of days with more positive and encouraging tales from 127 00:08:31,610 --> 00:08:34,510 Speaker 2: behind the news for you. Thanks for listening. 128 00:08:42,660 --> 00:08:45,870 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to Story Behind Podcast. 129 00:08:46,390 --> 00:08:48,590 Speaker 1: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story. 130 00:08:49,450 --> 00:08:51,829 Speaker 1: To see photos and videos that may have been referenced 131 00:08:51,870 --> 00:08:54,610 Speaker 1: in this episode, check out the links in the show notes. 132 00:08:55,390 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: And if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 133 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,780 Speaker 1: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. We'd 134 00:09:01,820 --> 00:09:03,820 Speaker 1: also love it if you'd rate us and leave us 135 00:09:03,860 --> 00:09:06,740 Speaker 1: a review. It really does help more people find us. 136 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:13,180 Speaker 1: Story Behind is a Salem Web Network production. Thank you. 137 00:09:16,620 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 3: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. 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