"[We] never really know what happens after we hang up and rescue takes over. We never know the people and emotions that continue after we pick up to answer the next call, as our last call heads to an ER somewhere. We never know whether or not we helped someone, comforted someone, or affected an outcome, even in the worst case, assuaged fear and doubt, gave hope, or courage in the last moments of someone’s very life. I was blessed to know at least once in my career, I did something that helped someone even beyond the grave, in the person of her son, my colleague, my friend, and a brother I did not know I had."

Read "The Last Voice" and share your own story at npstw.org/tell-us-your-story/.