http://www.bruceljmartin.com

Bruce Martin

Disabled Volunteer Firefighter/E.M.T. - NYS

Totally Permanently Injured on Mother's Day 1996. 76% - 100% Disabled.

Left hip to the top of the neck = Injury area.

Rescued an approximately 400lb dead weight near drowning victim (water soaked wool clothing, boots and body weight) while sitting Indian Style in an inflatable 2-3 man rescue-boat.

Three prayers were offered to GOD: "GOD, Please give me the strength to lift this man into the boat, please get us all to shore safely so we don't need to be rescued (boat took on great damage during the rescue because of extreme weather), and please let me be able to move my arms because I don't want to look disabled (He witnessed the discrimination of people that appear different prior to his disability and didn't want that to happen to him.)

At the time of his last rescue Bruce was a Professional Runway Model and worked at the NYS Capitol.

Because Bruce "looks fine" only part of the total disability was recognized; labeled 75% disabled by COMP Court Law Judge - April 1997.

A totally disabled single parent with sole custody of a four year old child was forced to make up for the delusions of others by taking desperate extraordinary measures to ensure their survival.

Bruce's waist went from 34" to 29" in a year because he only had enough food for his child.

When Bruce asked for assistance for his son and self, only his father lent a hand.

Unable to use his upper extremities as needed, Bruce was forced to cause further pain to himself by performing actions beyond his broken body's abilities.

Forced to eat TV dinners since 1996 because of not being able to repetitiously move his arms and hands, therefore unable to cook most days.

In 1997 they lost their home for not having received any assistance.

14 years later he still loses motor function of his upper extremities at times, lives with continuous chronic pain, and scrapes by on $12,000.00 a year while the fight for medical care and treatment goes on.

Needs still unmet.

Healthy food/meals (dinners) needed.

Transportation services.

Full income and medical rights.

Someone to help raise his child.

Abandoning a family by denying the reality of ones permanent injuries causes severe damage to the disabled persons family aside from the difficulties of living newly disabled.

Just like a child growing up with the chaos of an alcoholic mentally ill parent, his child was forced to cope with the effects of his father's extreme pain and inabilities.

His child suffered greatly as well, feeling alone and unloved because his dad is mostly bedridden.

Don't turn your back on a fallen member of your family/community.