By DON STINE
What does it take to be a hero? Not just a hero who takes risks to help others (you know, the running into the burning building type of person) but to also be a person who is forced to take those same risks on a more personal level.
Well, as far as 21-year-old Courtney Pappas thinks, her aunt, Danielle, fits the bill pretty well
She is a great person. She deserves to be recognized. Nobody knows what she has been through and, to me, it is just amazing, Courtney said this week.
Courtney has nominated her aunt, Danielle Pappas- a captain on the Neptune City First Aid Squad- for recognition on the official web site for televisions most famous, crime-busting show Americas Most Wanted, hosted by John Walsh.
Web site and voting information can be found at www.AMW.com.
Each year the web site asks people to submit candidates to be voted the sites All Star of the Year.
The competition, to be decided through e-mail voting, honors first responders, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, EMTs and others who go above and beyond the call of duty to keep communities safe year-round, according to a web site statement.
Voting on nominations, like Pappas, continue until April 3 at noon, after an eight-week voting period. People can vote once a day until the April 3 closing date.
A group of eight finalists will then be selected, with the winner receiving $10,000 and a weekend trip to the Nascar Nextel Cup Series All-Star Challenge in Charlotte, North Carolina. Voting for the eight finalists begins April 19.
Danielle, who is 37 and has served on the local first aid squad for 15 years, said she first felt a calling to help others after a borough police officer convinced her to join the squad.
Helping others really is self-satisfying. It does make me feel better about myself, Danielle said.
But little did Danielle know that she was soon to have to help herself as well.
In 2001 Danielle had a botched surgery performed that left her unable to feed herself and her doctors told her she would never walk again. She is currently under a gag order about the litigation and cannot comment on details.
It was a difficult time. I had no equilibrium. I couldnt walk. I couldnt feed myself. For a year it was difficult to function and, basically, I was relearning a lot, she said. I needed corrective surgery, still have vertigo, and I am deaf in my right ear.
But still, even after her ordeal, Danielle said she knew she had to go back to serving on the first aid squad.
Its my drug, she jokingly admitted. I feel better about myself there. It is an adrenaline rush when I help other people.
Danielle said she hopes she has always put other people first, even when she wasnt feeling so good herself.
I had to get back to the squad. Its something I love to do, she said.
Neptune City Borough Councilwoman Susan Mitchell said Danielle is a hard worker and is a great service to the community.
She has, on more than one occasion, been the first aid squad captain and you have to respect anyone that dedicates that time and training. I hope people will cast their vote and support her nomination, Mitchell said.
And as far has Danielles niece, Courtney, is concerned?
Danielle had a very long, hard period. I didnt even see her much then. She had to learn simple things, you know, fork to mouth type of things. It was really bad and it took her a while to heal and get her drive again, she said.
But despite all that, Courtney said Danielle has come through in flying spirits.
I dont know. If I had to face that same kind of thing I just think I would have become a couch potato, Courtney said. She had determined goals and overcame it all. Its just amazing that somebody can do that for themselves.
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