9-1-1 ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ sʜᴏᴛs

Covid - Evan Buckley

Harper Buckley - 8

The year 2020 was a challenging one for everyone, but for Evan Buckley, it brought a unique set of trials. Buck, a firefighter known for his bravery and resilience, found himself facing a different kind of challenge when his eight-year-old daughter, Harper, fell ill with COVID-19.

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It started with a mild cough. Buck brushed it off as a typical cold, common among kids. But when Harper's fever spiked, and she complained of body aches, Buck's concern grew. As the days passed, the symptoms worsened. Harper became lethargic, her usually vibrant energy dulled. It was clear this wasn't a simple cold.

Buck decided it was time to get her tested. The process was nerve-wracking, involving a trip to the testing site where healthcare workers in full PPE took a swab from Harper's nose. The wait for results felt like an eternity. Buck tried to keep Harper's spirits up, but his own anxiety was hard to hide.

"Hey, sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Buck asked one evening, sitting by Harper's bed. She lay there, looking small and fragile under the covers.

"Tired, Daddy," she replied, her voice weak.

Buck stroked her hair, fighting back tears. "I know, baby. We're going to figure this out, okay?"

When the test results came back positive, Buck's world seemed to tilt. He had faced countless dangers in his line of work, but nothing compared to the fear of losing his little girl.

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The days that followed were a blur of worry and exhaustion. Buck isolated with Harper, doing everything he could to care for her while trying to keep himself from falling apart. He couldn't go to work, couldn't be out there helping others, because his most important job now was taking care of Harper.

"Why can't I go outside, Daddy?" Harper asked one day, her large eyes looking up at him questioningly.

Buck took a deep breath, trying to explain in a way an eight-year-old could understand. "Because you have a virus, sweetie. It's making you sick, and we need to make sure you rest and get better. Plus, we don't want anyone else to get sick."

Harper nodded, accepting his explanation. She was a resilient child, but Buck could see the toll the illness was taking on her. She missed her friends, her school, and the simple freedom of running around outside.

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One night, as Buck was checking Harper's temperature, he heard her ask, "Daddy, am I going to die?"

Buck's heart shattered. He sat down on the edge of her bed, pulling her into a gentle hug. "No, baby. You're not going to die. You're going to get better, I promise."

Harper held onto him tightly, her small body trembling. "I'm scared."

"I know, sweetheart. I am too," Buck admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "But we're going to get through this together."

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Throughout this ordeal, Buck had the support of his firefighting family. They called and checked in regularly, offering words of encouragement and practical help.

"Eddie, I don't know what to do," Buck confessed over the phone one evening, his voice cracking with exhaustion.

"You're doing everything you can, Buck," Eddie reassured him. "Just keep being there for her. You're a great dad."

The 118 crew organized a schedule to drop off groceries and other essentials at Buck's doorstep. It was a lifeline, allowing Buck to focus all his energy on Harper.