Trauma in Baja with Mike James

Explicit content warning

10/19/20 • 58 min

LAFD Captain Mike James tells us about a dirt biking "fun run" in Baja California that was anything but. After getting separated from his group and off of the trail, he crashes his bike & suffers a serious kidney laceration, causing his abdomen to fill with blood, while no one even knows he's missing. An incredible series of events fall into place for Mike to survive and give this interview. We get a 1st hand account of waking up in the middle of the back trails, and the severity of your situation slowly dawning on you. This is an adventure that no adventure seeker wants, & we learn why. Hang on to your handlebars.

Previous Episode

"Left Arm Filet" with Leroy Rogers

"Lucky" Leroy Rogers is a Captain with the LAFD who's had 2 separate major medical/trauma events, that happened to HIM, in the span of a few years. 1st he tells us about having a full blown stroke, on duty, while beefing with his captain, and even driving the Ladder Truck with 1/2 of his face "out of service". He goes from refusing care, to having to learn how to walk again, & it changes his whole perspective on life. You'd think that'd be enough? Not for Lucky Leroy, he then has the thrill of breaking his arm, while having it crushed under his dune buggy out in the sand dunes of Glamis. BUT THERE'S MORE. His arm then swells to the size of his thigh as he develops compartment syndrome & he has to have an emergency fasciotomy to save his arm, the one he had to learn how to use again a few years prior. This is a hell of a story of a guy who can keep a good attitude no matter whats happened to him. He then breaks down how he was able to come back to LAFD after these incidents, & his role now as a Special Duty Captain with the Fire Prevention Bureau. This one has life lessons, & a cautionary tale, & a lot of clowning because Leroy is hilarious. ('I broke my arm, no big deal bro")This episode swells up fast.

Next Episode

Comedian Sofiya Alexandra

We talk with our friend, Comedian (#1 album "Fathers Day" on iTunes) & host of the Private Parts Unknown podcast, Sofiya Alexandra about discovering a lump in her breast on vacation in Hawaii. She graciously explains the whole process of mammograms, biopsies, breast MRI's, chemo, radiation, blown IV's, ports, unnecessary tattoos, cold caps, frozen fingers, steroids, oncologists, & more. This was an eye opener for us & its full of useful tips for anyone who finds themselves in this predicament. We also talked about kinda weird Mass Casualty Incidents we've had. Lotta stuff here.