“I absolutely do have bad days. I just make sure I don’t let myself give up.” EMT Kate Smith, who began her public safety journey as a junior firefighter and EMS explorer at 14, before becoming a below-the-knee amputee at 16, shares how EMS helped reveal an inner strength that propelled her to where she is today – working to complete paramedic school, training for obstacle course races and inspiring others through her Adaptive Kate TikTok videos. Plus, we dig into all this:
- The high school job shadow requirement that drove her love of public safety
- How her work in EMS ultimately helped reveal the true reason she lost her leg – suspected Münchausen Syndrome by proxy
- The impact of Spartan races on her mental health
- Her thoughts on gratitude after trauma and overcoming obstacles to pursue your passions
Editor’s note: Following her appearance on the show, Smith shared that she completed the Spartan Trifecta. See her victory photos below!
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback!