Okeechobee firefighter/paramedic seriously ill
Chris Davis
Simply go to www.gofundme.com/fightingforchrisdavis and click on the DONATE button.
OKEECHOBEE—A 22-year-old Okeechobee firefighter is battling for his life in a Lake Worth hospital.
Chris Davis, the son of Okeechobee City Police Chief Denny and Margo Davis, wasn’t feeling well on Sunday, March 24, and was checked in to Raulerson Hospital. He then contracted pneumonia and, for reasons not yet known, his liver and kidneys began to shut down.
Chris was transported to JFK Medical Center where he remains today.
He was taken off a ventilator late Monday, April 1, and is now breathing on his own. Even though he is awake and talking, Chris is still in the intensive care unit.
“Today, he’s doing phenomenal—he’s sitting up,” Okeechobee County Fire/Rescue firefighter/paramedic Donny Arnold said Tuesday afternoon, April 2. “Of course, he still has the heart problem. It’s way too soon to speculate on anything.”
However, the extent of his heart problem won’t likely be known for some time yet.
According to OCF/R records Chris has been with that department since April 9, 2012, and is a firefighter/paramedic.
Word about the young man’s battle has spread far and wide, and there has been an outpouring of help for Chief Davis and his family.
Word about the young man’s battle has spread far and wide, and there has been an outpouring of help for Chief Davis and his family.
“We’ve had fire departments from as far away as Kentucky asking about holding fundraisers,” said OCPD Detective Bill Saum.
He went on to say that a volunteer fireman at a department in the Bluegrass State, who used to live in Okeechobee, has asked what they could do to raise money for the family.
The detective said fire departments in Palm Beach County have told the chief if he needs a place to rest, they will find him room in one of those departments.
He also said 15 donation containers have been placed in local business around Okeechobee.
Also, OCPD Detective Bettye Taylor has established a web site where donations can be made online. Simply go to www.gofundme.com/fightingforchrisdavis and click on the DONATE button.
Firefighter Arnold said he and Detective Taylor are spearheading a fundraising committee. That committee will be made up of OCF/R firefighters, Okeechobee City Fire Department firefighters, OCPD officers and deputies from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office. He added that trust fund will also be established in Chris’ name.
“If we’re going to do this and raise a lot of money, we’re going to do it right,” he continued.
He also said over $1,000 has been collected from those donation containers. Also, the local Fraternal Order of Police has donated $500; the Skip Bryant Memorial Fund has donated $500; and, the OCF/R union picked up last week’s lodging tab for Chief Davis and his wife.
Firefighter Arnold said if anyone has any questions or ideas to raise money he can be reached by calling 863-634-6464.
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