The Bear and Buddy Biographies: From SNOW to SURF

In June of 2007, the Charleston, SC department lost 9 very brave men in a Sofa Superstore Fire. The tragedy has devastated the department deeply and opened the eyes of many, as the greatest single FD loss since 9/11.

As it is in the Fire Department, new opportunity typically only comes along with a promotion or a tragic death. So was the case 8 months ago, and we knew in our hearts that we had to come and help. Sean could offer so much experience, training, education, and perspective...that this department needed. They needed to heal. They needed to make changes and progress. They needed to move forward. So, in our continued pursuit of finding the perfect balance of Sean's FD career and our family life, we took one more BIG leap of faith and moved to Charleston, SC in March of, after Sean was recruited and hired immediately.

We actually became interested in this area, more than 2 years ago, but the timing wasn't right. We had been keeping our options open, considering the direction of the Columbus FD, what would be best for us long term, and ultimately the desire to move closer to my family in FL, at some point in our lives. We really wanted our kids to grow up with their cousins and build close friendships with them, something that my brother, Bryce, and I didn't have with ours.

With Sean having to relocate to SC right away, that left me with the entire house and 2 kids to pack up and move by myself! Thank goodness, my awesome brother and his superwoman wife, came to rescue, driving all the way up from Orlando to Columbus and moved us to Charleston!