Community Raising Funds for Ailing W.V. Paramedic

Jan. 23--Jeff Pittman has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help others, according to this friends and supporters. Now he needs some help himself.

Pittman, a nationally registered paramedic and chief of the Raleigh County Crisis Team, is facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills after a series of health problems.

In 2016, Pittman was diagnosed with liver failure caused by diabetes. He is now on a liver transplant list. Infections have kept him out of work, and he has lost a toe on his right foot due to gangrene.

Not long after gangrene set in, sepsis took hold of Pittman's body and contaminated his renal and respiratory systems, according to RCCT Chaplain Craig Dorsey.

"Jeff recently finished his long-term care at St. Francis Medical Center in Charleston, and is now waiting for a liver transplant," Dorsey said in a letter to The Register-Herald. "He has to see three to four doctors at least 10 times a month to supervise his health to make sure that his body is not getting weaker."

To help with the medical bills, Pittman and his friends, family and supporters are sponsoring a free pancake-eating contest from 5 to 9 p.m. Jan. 30 at IHOP on Harper Road. The group asks that, if you eat some pancakes, you give a donation to the cause.

And to thank the public for their giving spirit, a free gospel sing is slated for 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 25. Rick Lilly and more will perform at Coal City Elementary. Once again, the group asks for a small donation to the cause for attendance.

"Jeff is an all-around good guy," Dorsey said in a phone interview. "He's helped everyone that will let him help, whether it's fundraisers, bingo, or anything like that. He's given money, time and everything else you can imagine to help our community."

Now we need to help Pittman, Dorsey said.

If you would like to help Pittman, call 304-573-8183 or email cillad47@hotmail.com.

(c)2017 The Register-Herald (Beckley, W.Va.)