My 24 year old Transgender Son Charlie finished EMT school this morning.

[cherokeeprogressive]

He carried a 96 average and finished half a percentage point behind the class leader, who was taking the course for the second time. He actually apologized for that.

I cannot be more proud. He (who at the time was still uncertain of his own identity) had a rough time in high school because of the bullying, and learned to hate school in general. Wound up in a continuation high school and didn't get back to "normal" high school until the last quarter of his senior year. After doing so well in training for what will surely be a long and rewarding career in the medical field, He's suddenly enamored with the learning process and assures me He'll be continuing His education for the foreseeable future. That's Kick. Ass.

So if you have a beer, glass of wine, or cocktail later today, consider raising your glass in honor of Charlie. He's a 24 year old kid who's had a rough go of it but is suddenly secure and confident of his place in the world. When I asked "Why do you want to be an EMT?" his answer was "Because I want to help people when they need it most." How cool is that.

Send a good luck {{{vibe}}} out to my Son today... he's earned it.

[blm]

1. Salute to Charlie and you, cherokee….

,

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Lifting a glass for you both!

[polly7]

3. Congrats to him!!!

He's going to love it. He will gain so much more confidence very quickly - I know it's the best and most fulfilling thing I ever did.

Way to go Charlie!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Congrats to Charlie for a job well done!

And to you for supporting him as he transits through this tumultuous time in his life!

[Gregorian]

5. I'm filled with hope today.

This is yet one more reason why I'm feeling so well. Thanks for sharing, and I hope your son is satisfied beyond his expectations.

When I was his age I took an exam to get my pulmonary technologist's license. I got it! I worked in cardiology, and got to see operations, and learn all kinds of great things.

Cheers! All the best!

[mnhtnbb]

6. Congratulations to Charlie!

He certainly deserves it.

[rhett o rick]

7. Best of luck. nm

[riderinthestorm]

8. Congratulations Charlie!

Good job to you too Cherokee progressive for raising a terrific young man.

[hamsterjill]

9. That's awesome!

Congratulations to your family.

Charlie WILL help people, and we need more people like Charlie!

[Jitter65]

10. Congratulations.

[longship]

11. Woo Hoo! To Charlie!!!

And a hat tip!


Way to go, Charlie. We're with you!!!!

[jumptheshadow]

12. The warmest greetings to you and Charlie

Some of the best people in the world are those are overcome adversity and transform their own experience into ways to help others.

[Aristus]

13. Congratulations!

[Takket]

14. The people of are in good hands!

[8 track mind]

15. not quite beer thirty for me

But when it is I will raise my glass for him

[cntrygrl]

16. You may not believe me but I got goosebumps

while reading this. Congratulations to Charlie!! Please give him a hug from my wife and me cherokeeprogressive. I can't imagine how proud you are. Wow!

[LuckyLib]

17. Congrats to you and Charlie!

There's so much bad news in the world, it is wonderful to hear of good and positive lives being lived out there! Thanks so much for posting this!

[redwitch]

18. Congratulations Charlie!

I have so much respect for EMTs, real heroes!

Several years ago I was one of the first people to come upon an accident scene. Motorcycle vs. truck. The motorcycle passenger, a young woman, was laying in the middle of the road. I stopped to see if I could help as others were tending to her boyfriend off in a ditch with the bike. All I could do for her was hold her hand and talk softly to her and make sure she didn't try to move which she kept trying to do.

An eternity went by while I was waiting for the real help and my EMT friend was one of the first. I watched Ted kneel down and I stood up and moved away. I cannot tell you the relief I felt that he was there! A medivac helicoptor arrived moments later and she was gently strapped to the gurney and airlifted first. Both she and the foolish boyfriend( who thought he could outrun the truck while entering the roadway) survived the accident, I read about it the next day. She had internal injuries, 19 years old. Thank God they were at least both wearing helmets and the EMTs got there fast. I couldn't do an EMT's job, takes a special kind of person.

I am so sorry Charlie had a rough time growing up, glad his adult years will be Kick Ass!

Congratulations to you too, you did a good job!

[Dont call me Shirley]

19. Congratulations Charlie!

[Dustlawyer]

20. K&R!!!

[SoapBox]

21. Congratulations Charlie!

Best wishes for a great career.

[hopeforchange2008]

22. He sounds like a wonderful young man! /nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

23. congratulations to your kid. it's not easy being trans and so all accomplishments are so much harder

to achieve and therefore in some ways far more meaningful. glad he made it out of his teens, has support and love in his life, and now a new career!

[secondwind]

24. Here's to Charlie! *raising my Johnnie Walker Black scotch*

[Behind the Aegis]

25. A know a few EMTs.

It's a tough line of work. One of my friends loves to send internet memes about EMTs. Some are pretty funny.

Best of luck to him! A noble, but often overlooked, profession.

[NanceGreggs]

26. Congrats to Charlie!!!

[moonbabygo]

27. congrats to your son

We need more people like him

[TDale313]

28. Congrats to Charlie!!!

Sounds like he's doing great.

[leftieNanner]

29. If I could Rec it more than once,

I assuredly would! Congratulations to Charlie! That was my Dad's name and he was a giving and good man too.

[FSogol]

30. Congrats. n/t

[allan01]

31. i hated my highschool years because of the bullying and haazing

congrats for your son .

[Fresh_Start]

32. Congratulations to the proud grad and his family

I can appreciate his struggles and hope its smooth sailing from now on.

[ReRe]

33. I'm so happy to hear your news!

Congratulations to Charlie AND to you. He is so lucky to have a parent like you. Not all kids have someone like you pulling for them. I most certainly will have a glass of wine and think of you both!

[liberalmuse]

34. Congratulations, Charlie!

I think it's wonderful any time anyone of us is a able to bring a human being into this world who seeks to try and make this world a better place. It isn't easy for Transgender people. They are shunned by almost every faction of society. I'm so glad Charlie has a loving parent who is the definition of unconditional love. I humbly raise a glass to both of you!

[democrank]

35. You must be so proud of your son.

My best to him.

[frylock]

36. Great job!

Go Padres!

[eShirl]

37. EMT's are the shit

[lunatica]

38. Aww! Big bear hugs to yer kid!

[Turbineguy]

39. Indeed!

[Hortensis]

40. That is SO cool. Your son sounds like

a person with wonderful potential, and I did just salute him in my favorite manner. Thank you for sharing your happiness.

[JDPriestly]

41. Congratulations! Wonderful!

[40RatRod]

42. Congrats because...

...he can help those who need help the most. A noble profession. I know you are proud!

[Omaha Steve]

44. .

[KansDem]

45. I will lift a glass this evening!

Congrats!!!

[Sheepshank]

46. Cheers...to you and your son

life is inching better for those who don't fit the mold.

[onecaliberal]

47. Congratulations, Charlie! You are awesome!

You will do exceptional things in life. Thank you for sharing this today. It does my heart good to see there are still wonderful people in this world.

[LostOne4Ever]

48. Congrats to your son!!! nt

[MerryBlooms]

49. Beaut! Congratulations, Charlie!!

[MynameisBlarney]

50. Noice!

Grats to you both!!!!!

[cherokeeprogressive]

51. THIS is the reason I love DU. Bernie... Hillary... Bernie... Hillary... Who cares? We got US!

Heartfelt Thanks to my DU Family. I'll send Charlie a link to this post and its replies. I'm POSITIVE it will not only warm his heart but give him that much more confidence.

There are replies in this thread from Friend and Foe (only because of the primaries) alike. That we can put our differences aside in good times and bad makes this place the special place it truly is.

Thank You again everyone. You have totally made my day, and when Charlie sees this, his as well I'm sure.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. As a former EMT. Tell him two things

Use your legs every time. Back injuries destroy careers and are easy to get. Which also means hit the gym and stay fit.

Secondly, watch your back. The streets have a certain danger. They don't teach that in EMT school

[Skittles]

53. so cool, cherokeeprogressive

AWESOME

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

54. Congrats...

Now, when you re-certify in CPR, skip the part where you say 'CALL 911'

Because from now on, my friend....

YOU ARE 911 !!!!!

[catrose]

55. Congratulations, Charlie

The world needs more people like you. Blessings for a long and happy life.

[SusanCalvin]

56. Very happy to hear this!

[Thespian2]

57. I just raised my glass to Charlie...

may he have a long and rewarding career...

[BeyondGeography]

58. Well done, Charlie

With respect for sticking with it and admiration for your fortitude. All success to you from NY.

[nolabear]

59. Dear Charlie, you are why I still have hope.

The fact that people can be treated as though they have no right to exist and still come out wanting, not to hurt everyone, but to identify with the pain that people feel and help them is the best of us. The part that needs to thrive and succeed so we all keep growing up to that place.

No matter what happens in the day to day, I hope you remember how special you are.

[FuzzyRabbit]

60. Congratulations, Charlie

Almost too late in life I found my calling in health care. Good for you for finding meaningful work at an early age.

I hope you take as much satisfaction from your work as I have from mine.

[rurallib]

61. It does get better

Now Charlie can make it better for many.

Here's to you, Charlie. You make a parent proud!

[Scruffy Rumbler]

62. Thank your son for me!

We need people like him doing this kind of work. So many of our trans brothers and sisters suffer horribly with some emergency responders. I lived in DC when a young trans woman died after a car accident. The uncaring responders laughed at her as she died. They refused to treat her.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

63. K, R & Best wishes Charlie. n/t

[tavernier]

64. I bet you're busting your buttons

out of sheer pride!

Glasses lifted to your remarkable son!!

[KT2000]

65. Very Cool!

Good luck vibes to Charlie! and congrats to you both!

[Fritz Walter]

66. Skål! Prost! Salut!

It's happy hour, so I raise my glass three times for your wonderful child!


My brother was an EMT and eventually a paramedic. It's hard work, with long hours and mediocre compensation. Working nights, weekends in horrible weather and other adverse conditions. Most people can't handle it, but your son has what it takes.

Best wishes to him, and congrats to you for raising a wonderful, caring child!

Illegitimi non carborundum. ('Adapted' Latin for "Don't let the bastards get you down." From a sign I saw in an emergency room staff area in the 1970's).

[OldRedneck]

67. Good for him!!!!

I'm a 71-year-old Advanced Life Support (Cardiac) EMT with a rural volunteer rescue squad in Virginia.

Your son's accomplishment is even more laudable because, over the past couple of years, more and more states are moving from state-designed EMT testing and evaluation to National Registry EMT training, testing, and evaluation. The NREMT curriculum and test are quite a bit more difficult than the old state tests.

Congrats to a new NREMT!!!!

[azmom]

68. Charlie sounds awesome.

Congratulations

[VOX]

69. Terrific! Cheers to you and Charlie...

Congratulations and all the best to you both!

[postulater]

70. What a great accomplishment.

For you both.

Congrats!

[trocar]

71. YEA

Good for you and your son. I never want to meet Charlie when he's working as I'd probably be injured and not good company. I hope Charlie has a great and safe career

[JohnnyLib2]

72. Great news!

Congratulations to both of you!

[malaise]

73. Congrats

[LiberalElite]

74. Tossing one back for Charlie now

You both done good!

[xynthee]

75. So happy for you and Charlie!!

[UMTerp01]

76. Congratulations Charlie!!!!

[merrily]

77. 96 Who wouldn't be proud1 Good for him and you.

[panader0]

78. Congrats to Charlie! Way to go.

"I want to help people"......There is no better sentiment.

[mahina]

79. Can't think of any statement that would make me prouder. I'm proud of him from way over here

In the middle of the ocean.

Nice going, Charlie, nice job Cherokeeprogressive. Well done!

[ornotna]

80. All the best to Charlie

Cheers to Charlie and you.

[yardwork]

81. Here's to Charlie, and here's to his dad.

[lonestarnot]

82. Yeah! Congratulations Charlie!

[raging moderate]

83. Congratulations, Charlie!

Well done.

[sakabatou]

84. Kampai

[Rhythm]

85. Congratulations, Charlie!!!

[CoffeeCat]

86. Congratulations to Charlie

and I am glad that he is doing so well. It sounds like he found his calling and that he has a supportive parent who is paving the way for him to succeed and thrive. Kudos all the way around.

I know it must be tough, especially during the high school years. I wanted to share with you that my daughter is friends with a student in her junior high who is trangendered. My daughter is very empathetic and has listened to her discuss how difficult all of this is. My daughter picked the topic of "transgendered youth" for a special class project. The students create a board about a topic and the boards are displayed at their desks. Everyone walks around the class, learning about the different topics.

My daughter told me that she felt compelled to do her board on the issue of transgendered youth because of her friend and because she hopes that more people will learn and understand--which she hopes will foster kindness and acceptance. She said that her transgendered friend inspired her.

I just wanted to let you know that there are glimmers of hope. The word is changing for the better. Progress is being made. I wish Charlie could have found more kindness (and less bullying in school) and I'm glad he is on his way to happiness and success!

[Liberal_in_LA]

87. ..

[Iwillnevergiveup]

88. What an accomplishment!

Congratulations to Charlie and your family and supporters. As a teacher, I love hearing stories like this. "...help when they need it most" really resonated with me.

K&R

[eridani]

89. Go Charlie!!!! n/t

[Lunabell]

90. Excellent!

Raising my coffee mug in congratulations!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

91. Congratulations!

Best wishes for him!

[Ilsa]

92. EMTs and other first responders are

Mentioned in the same sentence with troops in our church's prayers. They'da bomb!

So glad he has learned to love learning. No stopping him now!

[Fla Dem]

93. Congratulations to Charlie and to you the proud Dad!

[TuxedoKat]

94. Congratulations to Charlie

I worked as an EMT for awhile, it was very rewarding. The people that do this work are great, many of them are volunteers. Maybe Charlie will be interested in becoming a paramedic. Best wishes and good luck Charlie.

[lostnfound]

95. Congratulations Charlie! You'll do great..

It's a beautiful important job you've decided to do.
Take care of yourself well; don't ignore your own need for vacations and sleep and recreation that help you feel restored. Burnout can be a hazard of that role, from what I hear. Kudos and thanks from the universe of people whose lives you will one day save.