I have been a firefighter in Ocala since 1994. I started as a rookie tailboard and over the last 17 years I’ve also been a paramedic, a captain and a driver. I’ve responded to big fires, house fires, industrial fires involving hazardous chemicals and carcinogens. We are regularly exposed to biohazards as well. We protect ourselves as much as we can – but we always get a little bit of exposure. I’ve also taken medications throughout the years for heart disease and cholesterol.

Firefighting is challenging job, especially for a female in a town where female firefighters are rare – there are only 7 or 8 of us in a force of 120. Over the years, I thought the changes I noticed were from a combination of the job, age and genetics.

I had horrible joint pain and chronic fatigue. I was depressed for months at a time, and had been taking three antidepressants for several years.

The detoxification program was fantastic. In the sauna, another firefighter and I had black soot coming out of our sinuses and pores.

After completing, I have no chronic pain. My mood is totally different. Overall, I’m a happy person, but I never realized how unhappy I was until I got all that those toxins out of my body. I can make quicker decisions. Life feels crisper. I’ve made a complete life change regarding the food that I eat, the supplements I take and what I put in my body.

I’ve been able to come off every medication because my symptoms are gone. The antidepressants were the hardest – I’ll never go back to them.

In addition to being a firefighter, I work as an RN. I work long hours, and it’s amazing to me how quickly I now recover from stress or fatigue.

This program gave me back life that I didn’t think was lost, but got lost along the way. I am truly indebted to John Travolta and Kelly Preston and the Heroes Health Fund for doing this for us.

Helen Marie Hunter
Ocala Fire-Rescue
Fire Equipment Operator/Paramedic...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................BACK