As most of you may know, Jay is a Firefighter/Paramedic and I am a nurse. At the time we met, I was working a shift in the ER and he was working a shift at the fire house. I was the charge nurse that day, and it felt like Westwood Fire’s ambulance had brought us every single patient that day! I saw Jay and thought to myself, “hmm, he’s kinda cute”. Keep in mind this was during COVID when everyone had to wear a mask covering their entire face. Jay typically wears a baseball hat when he is at work, so I was literally only able to see his eyeballs. I remember mentioning to a few of my co-workers that day, “the Westwood Fire medic is so cute. Did anyone see if his last name was on his work shirt?” I had everyone on the lookout for this guy and to find out his name.

After about the 12th patient they brought us, I think I remember saying to Jay, “ENOUGH! There are other hospitals to bring patients to!” Clearly my flirting skills are not the best. Towards the end of my shift, I saw Jay standing at the unit coordinators desk asking for some paperwork. I went over and asked if there was something I could help him with and he told me he needed some important paperwork for a patient, which I was gladly to help him with. Then gone he was. I never got his name or got the guts up to give him my number. I prayed to God he would come back again, but my shift ended and I went home.

A little back story- one of the nurses I worked with at the time also worked as a fire fighter on the same department as Jay. So, me being me, I immediately texted him and said, “hey, who was the medic on the ambulance today?” To which he then started sending me picture after picture of everyone on shift that day. He sent me 2 or 3 photos which were not Jay and I was about to say forget it and give up, and then he sent me a picture of Jay. “THATS HIM!!!!!” Finally I was able to put a name to the face I saw 9 million times that day!

I was able to find Jay on Facebook (I know, creepy and old school), and immediately pressed the “add friend” button without hesitation. It felt like weeks had gone by before he accepted my friend request (okay it may have only been a few hours). The first message came from Jay, thanking me for helping him get that important paperwork at the hospital and the rest was history.

Jay asked me if I would be interested in getting a drink together the following week. Obviously I said yes! Our date was on a Sunday; to which I suggested having a “Sunday Funday” and Jay was more than game. Our date turned into an ALL DAY date, hopping from bar to restaurant to bar, ending at a local dive bar. After that date, Jay and I wouldn’t go more than 24 hours without seeing each other.

I love our story and will forever remember that day I saw Jay in the ER!