Md. Firefighter Loses Leg, But Not Gumption

Jay Shipley faced a choice: rely on crutches for the rest of his life or have his right leg amputated.

"To me there was no choice," Shipley said, sitting in the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Station with his new prosthetic leg.

Doctors at Baltimore Washington Medical Center discovered a blood clot in his leg in September when he said walking was painful and noticed a black mark on the side of his foot.

The Riviera Beach assistant fire chief has been a volunteer firefighter since 1981, and losing his right leg below the knee hasn't ended his desire to ride again.

Shipley will complete physical therapy at the end of February and wants to begin responding to calls again once he returns to his full-time job at Security Vault Works on Jan. 19. If he's successful, he will be the third known qualified firefighter in Anne Arundel with a prosthetic.

Capt. Russ Davies, county Fire Department spokesman, said National Fire Protection Association standards have been updated to match medical improvements. If firefighters missing limbs are now able to perform the job, they aren't treated differently.

"It can serve as a source of inspiration," Davies said.

Davies said the department tries to accommodate anyone they can. As a paramilitary organization, the profession attracts many veterans who could potentially have injuries from their service, Davies said.

After Shipley returned home, he said he spoke with an Odenton firefighter who had his leg amputated below the knee as a result of an injury he received when serving for the Army in Iraq.

"I called him to find out how he was adapting and how he was as far as fighting fire, and he said he hasn't stopped," Shipley said.

Another county firefighter has a hand prosthetic and can still tie things faster than Shipley, Shipley said.

The Riviera Beach firefighting family has been supportive and is amazed at his positive attitude. Shipley drove a car Tuesday for the first time since his surgery.

"The worst thing about getting a prosthetic is now I have to pair my socks," he joked.

Shipley is building muscles in his legs that are weak after months of using a walker but has made quick progress. He was scheduled to stay at a rehabilitation center for four weeks and was discharged after two.

He received his new leg Dec. 19 and was using a cane instead of a walker after five days.

"Jay has been a true inspiration and his attitude has never been anything but positive," a Facebook post on the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company page read. "Where there is a will, there is a way. Never give up and never lose hope!"

Shipley grew up in Crownsville, and he said he knew he wanted to be a firefighter when he watched the local company respond to a call.

"It was early January where some kids went out onto some ice on the Severn River and fell through," he said. "And I watched them get rescued and I was like you know that looks pretty neat. So that's how I ended up here."

One of his favorite things about being a firefighter is being able to help someone in what is likely the biggest emergency of their life.

In 2001, he moved to Riviera Beach and has been riding there since. He said he plans to continue volunteering until he is unable to.

"I think a positive attitude is the best thing you can have," he said.

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