Jennifer Wallace

When we think about the most meaningful jobs in the world, firefighters are among the top of the list, right?

While most of us run from danger, they run straight into it, risking their lives to save ours.

The impact of their work is undeniable.

At least, that's what I had always assumed, until I met a firefighter named Greg, who told me that even firefighters can struggle to see the impact of their work.

Really?

How?

How can that be?

I remember asking Greg, and he explained with a story.

When he was a rookie, he and his crew were called to a horrific car wreck.

A woman was trapped inside, her legs were pinned under the twisted steel.

Greg's training took over.

He looked for an opening, and he found a jagged opening, slid through to put his heavy bunker coat around the woman to shield her from the glass as they worked to rescue her.

Greg promised he would stay by her side and they would get her out, and they did.

But here is the part of Greg's story that stuck with me.

After that intense experience, Greg would never know what happened next.

Did the woman survive?

Did she ever walk again?

Did their efforts that night make any difference?

It surprised me to learn that firefighters rarely hear about the outcomes of their rescues.

Over time, that lack of closure can erode morale.