Joan Boyd Wood / Ford

I was one Jo's EMT partners in Lafayette. She was one of the first medics that I worked with. She taught me a lot of things in EMS and was always willing to teach if you wanted to learn. She was firm but had a heart of gold and could really make you laugh. One of my favorite memories of Jo was when we were on a run (not patient loaded) and I had to take a unfamiliar back road because the intersection we needed to go through was closed off. There was a bunny hill that wasn't very visible until you came right up on it. We got a tiny bit air born with our box truck. I was expecting a "hey easy" or an "oof!" from Jo. Instead she laughed. Without missing a beat I said, "Well Jo, looks like you just became a Flight Medic. You got your wings today." We both had a really good laugh on that one. We would talk about her grandson, the old "mast trouser" times of EMS and talk about her cats. One of her cats she called, "Pita." I asked, "Why Pita? As in Pita bread?" She said it was short for "Pain in the @$$." Her other cat was called "Honey Bunny." She knew how to make you blush in the face and laugh. For those who knew Jo and know what I am talking about, I will it leave to your imagination. She was a fine Medic and truly cared about her patients. One I truly miss working with.