By FireRescue1 Staff
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Cindy Schuenke suffered a severe injury in 2006, but has spent the last decade fighting for back pay from the city and the department.
Although a court ruled she was wrongfully terminated and owed back pay in 2013, Schuenke has not been paid. She was fired from the department in 2009.
Schuenke was severely burned while battling a house fire; she has had over 100 surgeries since. She told KMOV she misses the department camaraderie and struggles with mental health.
“I have PTSD, a lot of anxiety, the depression comes along with all of this, so anybody that has been on pain medicine, they know what it is like, it is so hard to get out of bed,” Schuenke said.
Earlier this month, the Community Fire Protection District filed paperwork stating it does not owe her any back pay.
“It is hard for me to comprehend that the people that I trusted and made promises to me in the hospital that they would take care of me and everything else, they didn’t do that,” Schuenke said.
Schuenke’s attorney plans to file an appeal to show contempt of court.