Casey Watson's Tour Of Duty On Tower 10
Photos by EMT Amy Moore
Firefighter Karen
Pfohl familiarizes Casey with the basket of Tower 10
The Laurel Volunteer Fire Department would like to introduce you to a friend of ours. His name is Casey Watson. Casey is my 13 year old hero. He has been through things in his life that would make even the strongest of people quiver, and he’s done it all with a smile.
In November of 1999 Casey was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called
Osteosarcoma. At diagnosis, Casey had 6 lesions on each lung as well
as in his leg. Since then Casey has been though countless hours of
chemotherapy, and at next count his lesions had dropped from 6 per lung
to 2 per lung. But the cancer in his leg was a limb threatening problem.
Osteosarcoma is a cancer that usually attacks the thigh or shin bone near
the knee. In the past that meant amputation. Being a 13 year
old soccer fanatic, the thought of losing a leg is not a good one.
The solution – a new procedure called Endoprosthetic Replacement Surgery.
But this procedure is not an easy procedure and Casey wanted to do a few
things before he went to the hospital. That’s where we met Casey.
Coming from a family of Firefighters, Casey always thought firefighters
and specifically fire trucks were cool. He wanted to go up in a ladder
truck -100 ft in the air. On May 12th, Capt John Ryan, Technician Robert
“Pop” Grant, Firefighter Karen “Squiggy” Pfohl, and EMT Amy “Lenny” Moore
took Tower 10, to the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute (MFRI) Training
Academy and let the wish turn into reality. After a long ride up
into the sky, Casey operated the rescue equipment and toured the entire
truck with a fine toothed comb.
F/F Pfohl checks out
Casey on the contents of the "water compartment" on Tower 10
On May 30th Casey, his Mom, and the hopes and prayers of all those around him, packed up and headed to Washington Hospital Center. After only a couple of hours in a surgery expected to last 4 or more, Casey came out with a prosthetic bone replacing the old one. The surgery went very well. Casey is now out of the hospital, working on his physical therapy and looking forward to getting back out onto the soccer field.
Casey on the training
grounds as his mother looks on
We at the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department would like to wish Casey a big welcome home, a speedy recovery, and hope to see him around the fire house soon. Personally, I think it was an honor to meet Casey. I thank him for the opportunity to get to know him, to help his wish become a reality, and to see that smile that just wouldn’t quit.