Our Story

We are Paramedics Paine & Paine but we didn't start that way. In 2009, I was a lonely nurse living in Alaska. I had prayed to God to help me find someone who needed me as much as I needed them. Be careful what you pray for as God WILL give you what you NEED but it may not feel like what you WANT at the time. I was blessed with Bud.

Working side by side as Paramedics in Arizona, 2013

We married in the Spring of 2010 and began a life together in Arizona. He was a Paramedic and I was an LPN. We were drawn together by our many shared interests: helping others, our faith, the medical field, love of rural life, Irish music, acapella Christian music, Mexican food, etc. There were also many hard adjustments for both of us to make but we learned so much about each other during those times.

Going to the hogan to be married. I told him that NOW is your chance to run away HAHA

There were no opportunities for nursing on the Navajo Indian Reservation where we lived even though I'd obtained an Arizona nursing license. Bud was doing some pretty cool things, though. While not working as a missionary, he was working on an old ambulance, doing standby at Navajo rodeos, and working with the Ganado fire department. I decided to become an EMT during this time.

Bud spent hours working on old ambulances

The following year, we moved closer to Tucson, AZ. I worked in a skilled nursing facility. I'd been toying with the idea of becoming a Paramedic because I didn't like being limited in caring for others. One of my patients had a very erratic heart rate and didn't look well at all. She became more and more obtunded. I called 911 and Paramedics arrived to assess her. They hooked her up to their cardiac monitor and took a 12-lead EKG. I was so amazed to see the rhythm I'd palpated in her wrist show up on the cardiac monitor! I thought to myself, "I HAVE TO LEARN THIS!".

I enrolled in Paramedic school at Pima Community College in Tucson shortly after. It was an arduous course but I studied hard. It took all my time and mental energy for over a year but I passed and received my AAS and became a nationally registered Paramedic! Bud & I worked together in a small, rural fire department he created in Mammoth, AZ. We received grants, taught CPR, and responded to medical & trauma incidents.

Promoting members of Pinal Rural Fire

In 2014, we moved to Garden Valley, ID where we both began working as volunteer Paramedics. We also worked part time with Cascade Fire, Acute Care, and at standby events. We wanted to be semi-retired but quickly found that there was plenty to do and we helped where we could. I also worked part time as a nurse in the Garden Valley Family Medicine Clinic, then part time as assistant admin at the fire station in Garden Valley. I worked for Victory Medical Transport until I got very ill with COVID.

Backing the ambulance into the bay after a run

There were serious medical issues we both battled. Bud is a disabled veteran and suffers from COPD and other ailments. I had a complete right hip joint replacement surgery and breast cancer. I thought my career was over but healed completely over time!

I was hired full time at Garden Valley Fire and totally enjoyed running 911 calls, teaching EMS training, teaching CPR, teaching 3 successful EMT classes, and helping the department gain their very own DEA license.

My 1st EMT Class! It was a blast!!

We lived in Garden Valley for ten years and until it became evident, we needed a more relaxed lifestyle, so we moved to Boise. Now, we're gearing up to begin helping where we can in this area. Our hearts are for veterans, especially disabled veterans and those on hospice care. We also want to teach others, enable their ability to save lives, and enrich their learning with our experience.

Our desires are for teaching EMT courses, teaching medical & stop the bleed courses to church security teams, helping veterans realize a 'last wish' by taking them at the ALS level wherever they'd like to go, and teaching EMS continuing ed.