Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Henry.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mike. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have been with Los Angeles county fire dept. for 32 years. I am a captain and have been involved in many aspects of the department. But at the beginning of my career after coming out of the Navy, I met Rick McClug who helped me understand how to pass probation as a firefighter with my first department Santa Monica Fire.
Years later, both Rick and I became Los Angeles county fire department members and eventually Captains. Dec 6, 2004 a ceiling collapsed on me during a fire. The physical injuries and untreated mental injuries hurt every aspect of my life. Divorce and other issues followed, but when Captain Rick McClung pulled his car over on the way to work and hung himself, I knew that my sufferings were shared by my heroic brothers.
I along with Captain Rick Brandelli who pulled me out of my ceiling collapse, started Firefighters Down. We are providing Therapeutic modalities to a suffering fire service, whose member (Unknowing to the general public) Commit suicide and high rates, divorce at high rates, drink at high rates, suffer from multiple cancers from exposure to carcinogens and PTSD from the collective viewing of Rapes, Murders, Tragic auto accidents, the emotional death of children, suicides and mass killings such as Las Vegas.
Firefighters down held a great concert in association with UCLA operation mend, The Los Angeles men’s center, and our sponsors at Pepperdine University Sept 11, 2017. Hosted by Craig T Nelson, Lou Gossett Jr, with performances from A Flock of Seagulls.
This event highlighted through a 30 minute documentary the “Secret” lives of the much loved Firefighter.
We have support from A -List celebs and athletes, UCLA , Dr Stephen Johnson, Nick Stein of border wars and many others as well as the Therapist which deliver our RIHS system of healing (Rapid Integrated Healing System) and our Trauma Release Technique.
Our partnerships with corporations, entertainment, Firefighters Cancer network, Volunteer Firefighters association, Fire Strong and the many therapist who have signed on to save this beautiful American Institution have Firefighters Down positioned to lead the charge to keeping the American Fire Service tradition of People helping people alive.
Has it been a smooth road?
The struggles of FFD are personnel. My life’s changes and my comrades from the accumulation of traumatic scenes and our injuries make this a hard hard job. The helping of our fellow human is what we do, the help Firefighters Down delivers back is vital.
Working overtime to fund the documentary, organizing the concert, having faith beyond my own emotional pains from untreated PTSD has and is tough.
My old comrades all have scars and the new firefighters we must support and protect.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the FireFighters Down story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in the Healing of Firefighters Spirits, and the prevention of PTSD.
Through our system of Healing formed through my three year captain Ahab (lol) commitment to solving the puzzle of suffering that plagues firefighters.
I am proud that great people and companies have joined me. As part Choctaw Indian I practice sweat lodging and other native American wisdom beliefs and this project delivers the voice of Nature back to the great men and women of the Fire Service.
We are an action company. When a fellow firefighter is hurt we reach them, and begin the process. That’s from cancer to PTSD to the over 30,000 fire ground injured each year. Our system includes flying Injured firefighters to Malibu every month to receive healing at our retreat and we have harnessed technology to deliver healing across the miles.
Action is what sets us apart and you can speak to those we have and will help not ruin or kill themselves and hurt their families
Firefighters Down is building the bridge between a loving general public and firefighters. Like wounded warriors, we have opened the door and connected.
The expansion of concerts and events that support Firefighters will grow, with the 2018 Concert for Heroes 300% better than 2017 our first.
This event and others will become an American Staple every year.
Contact Info:
- Address: 431 burnside, apt 12J
- Website: https://www.firefightersdown.org/
- Phone: 310 770 0766
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firefightersdownorg/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firefightersdown
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/firefightersdn
Image Credit:
Michael Henry
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