Steven Velásquez - Granting "Sirenity"

It's been nine months, since I had my spinal fusion surgery. This procedure is not designed for pain management, it is designed for adding stability to an unstable spine. The reason I had it, is because: My surgeon believed that all else had failed I was still living with unbearable, daily pain, despite high doses of opioids for over two years My surgeon believed if he were to add stability to the area, it would be reasonable to expect there might be subsequent pain relief.  I agreed. Since February, I've been through months of physical therapy. I returned to my teaching job after 12 weeks and my EMS job after seven, long months. I've lost over thirty pounds and have happily had to purchase the first smaller sized clothing since I was a boy.  The article below began as a Facebook post on February 17, 2017. I have since modified it slightly to add more specific detail and correct any errors. This is an account of what I went through immediately after my surger...

October 30, 2017  It has been quite a while since I've paid attention to my blog. A busy life and crossing over from healthcare provider to patient are partially to blame. Sadly, these past two years have been punctuated with indescribable pain, high doses of opiates, one spinal procedure after another, loss of income, and two surgeries to try to ameliorate my pain. Nothing has succeeded. I'm in less pain than I was prior to my last surgery, but in chronic pain nonetheless. In a few weeks I'll have a neural stimulator implanted permanently in my spine that will send my brain something to think about other than the constant pain signal. First steps... Feb. 2017 So that's the story between then and now. Recently, I've received some very strong words of encouragement from people who I hold in the highest regard, people who influence the lives of others, and shape the field I'm so proud to have worked in these past thirty years. "When am I going to r...

Thanksgiving Dinner during WWII As a photographer and paramedic, I have been blessed (sometimes cursed) with the ability to permanently capture the world around me in vivid, exquisite detail, in " History Windows " (pictures). Each profession, I believe, has made me better at the other. Saturday night, I worked with Jamie. It was our first time together though we had known each other for years. The call volume was steady. A little of this, a little of that. Some needed advanced life support and others not. Around 02:30 in the morning, we went to the address of a 92 year old female who was having gastrointestinal discomfort. She had recently been hospitalized for the same and probably would benefit by returning tonight - just not with the care of the paramedics as she was completely stable. I disconnected my equipment and explained to the family that the local EMS agency would be taking their mother back to the hospital. Across the bed from me was the patient's son...

Giving Thanks and Seeing Why Much has occurred recently, some good, some bad, some by design and some by coincidence. All of it has lead to a late November holiday worth truly giving thanks. On Health I've been a diagnosed type II diabetic since my Nicolette was born 20 years ago. The disease has a lot more complexity to it than just managing a euboxic glucose range. Good diabetics go visit their eye doctors annually. I am a good diabetic. By the age of forty I began wearing glasses. Unsure if my vision was declining due to age, diabetes or a combination of, I kept visiting and every so often, he kept changing my prescription. Me, a photographer and avid reader with declining eye sight - go figure. Last year he dropped this bomb on me; " Steve you're developing a cataract in your right eye. We're not going to worry about it unless it begins to affect your vision ." " Cataracts ?!" I yelled. " Cataracts are what my grandparents get !" ...

by Steven P. Velasquez Ever feel like your life has been set to music; somehow choreographed? Ever feel like there should be a camera crew filming you in your own reality TV show? A few nights ago would have been a great night for my film crew and I. A Place For Us Is Born When I was a kid, a roller rink opened up near my home in Rutherford, NJ. Its name was the " Wallington Skating Center " and she first opened her doors on Labor Day 1982. A buddy of mine (Anthony DiMeo) invited me there for an afternoon skate one day and curiously, I went. I had no idea what a "roller ring" or "roller rink" was. Once through her doors though, I discovered an enchanted wonderland of music and movement. Arcade games, a light show that reflected colored lights to the beat of the music - and girls - lots and lots of girls. What more could a pubescent Latino ask for in life than this? Life Has Rhythm Immediately, this thirteen year-old fell in love with th...

by Steven P. Velasquez, NREMTP Of all the courses I teach, I am probably most proud of teaching The Difficult Airway Course; EMS TM. (DAC). There are many reasons for this sense of pride, not the least of which is how a student can immediately put these assessment techniques to work, immediately begin practicing airway management more safely and based upon best evidence, can begin driving better outcomes for patients. Mark Bober NREMTP, Difficult Airway Course; EMS Instructor and Clinical Manager - JFK EMS   Less than a week ago, our team took the DAC to J.F.K. Medical Center's EMS Department in Edison, N.J. The audience included everything from the newest paramedics in search of good information (and perhaps a couple of CEU's) to seasoned practitioners, flight paramedics and critical care transport nurses. I personally have a near panic attack every time I get in front of a group of people and this group particularly because I directly work with many of...