Seemingly insurmountable12/12/2023 While watching Andrew and his team from Virtua Health in South New Jersey compete in the 2015 JEMS Games advanced clinical competition, it was Andrew’s unusual gait that first caught my eye. ![]() Of course, his most important accomplishment is being the very proud father to two sons, 5-year-old Jack and 2-year-old Sam. Two years ago Andrew became a registered nurse and is currently pursuing his masters as a nurse practitioner. He went on to become a paramedic and obtain his FP-C and CEN, and after that became an AHA and PHTLS instructor, eventually earning his bachelors in EMS management from George Washington University.Īnd he didn’t stop there. Put in Andrew’s place–experiencing a lifetime of events crammed into a single year–many people would understandably want to rest and “take it easy.” But not Andrew he was inspired. By nine months he was beginning to walk, and at the end of the year he had recovered to a point that he could be considered a medical miracle. He spent six months as a complete quadriplegic, but he never gave up. Andrew was now on the road to a very long, arduous recovery.Īndrew struggled while rehabilitating, throwing multiple pulmonary embolisms and having several seizure episodes. This time surgery was successful, with C4-C6 fused. He was revived, and the doctors waited nine days for his vital signs to stabilize before attempting the procedure again. The first attempt at surgery was interrupted as Andrew went into cardiac arrest. He was suffering from textbook neurogenic shock, making the prospect of spinal fusion surgery risky and terrifying. It’s something he’s not seen any other medical professional able to replicate–and it was his inspiration to become a paramedic.Īndrew was flown to Jefferson University in Philadelphia where he was diagnosed with a spinal hemitransection. While lapsing in and out of consciousness, Andrew was comforted by Chris and his ability to console a newly paralyzed 17-year-old. After his friends finally realized he was in trouble and scooped him out of the water, he was taken by ground ambulance to Atlantic City Regional Medical Center by Chris Miller, an AtlantiCare paramedic. He remained underwater completely alert and aware, but unable to raise his head to breathe. Just prior to his 18th birthday, Andrew was at the beach with friends enjoying a day like any normal teenager.Īndrew dove into a wave and struck a sandbank, causing a C5 burst fracture and instant paralysis. My inspiration was discovered at the 2015 JEMS Games while watching an extraordinary competitor.Īndrew Ecker can tell you exactly when he decided to become a paramedic. He invented the telephone as a result of attempts at creating a hearing aid. Alexander Graham Bell was inspired by his deaf mother and wife. Museums around the world are now covered in amazing portrayals of scenery or objects bathed in multiple types of illumination. Claude Monet was inspired by the changing of light. ![]() ![]() Where does one find inspiration these days? The greats of past generations could usually pinpoint an inspiration.
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