‘It broke my heart’: Bryan FD bands to support longtime firefighter after traumatic brain injury
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – A retired Bryan firefighter suffered from a traumatic brain injury last month and since, the community quickly began to rally behind him.
Mark Jones served at the Bryan Fire Department for 36 years, from 1980 through 2016, and is hailed as a staple in the community. He started his career as a firefighter and paramedic and moved up through the ranks to Engine Lieutenant and EMS Supervisor.
Now Jones is dealing with the aftermath of the accident where he will require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Wednesday night, Jones was moved to Houston Inpatient Rehabilitation- IRR Memorial Hermann, after spending several days in the ICU at St. Joseph’s Hospital in town.
Jones is on the first few steps of a long road ahead.
That’s a road Ernest Upchurch, chaplain of the Bryan Fire Department and Mark’s lifelong friend, never dreamed he’d have to walk.
“I was at the fire station and she (Jones’ wife) called me and told me he had a bad fall, and of course I left the fire station and I have to openly admit I ran a few stop signs getting to the hospital,” Upchurch recalled. “To see him, it broke my heart.”
Bryan Fire Department representative, Chris Lamb, told KBTX Jones has remained the same type of man he was during his time serving the City of Bryan.
“Every day was different with Jonesy. He was always making you laugh but was also the guy you went to when times were tough. He was a good guy to talk to when you had a bad call,” said Lamb.
In efforts to ease some of the financial burden on the Jones family, the fire department has worked with the family to create a GoFundMe to help with Jones’ medical expenses.
“We are a family here at the fire department. You spend a third of your life with these people. So, holidays and families, you know. So, it’s like a family member getting hurt,” Lamb added.
