Slater focusing on therapy as supporters continue to rally

Deepa Bharath

Newport Beach paramedic Brian Slater has just taken a first step on

what could be a long road to recovery.

The 51-year-old Fire Department veteran, who was seriously injured

in a bodysurfing accident in Newport last month, is now at St. Jude’s

Hospital in Fullerton undergoing physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Slater is fully focused on his therapy, said Donna Boston,

spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Fire Department.

“The hospital is still enforcing a no-visitors policy because

Brian needs to rest so he has the energy to work on his therapy,” she

said.

But that has hardly stopped people from bombarding the city with

e-mails and letters of support, Boston said.

“Our Web site has received approximately 200 e-mails,” she said.

“It’s amazing. I’ve never seen a show of support like this before.”

Boston said the response to a blood drive organized by the fire

department for the American Red Cross in Slater’s name on Sept. 18

was record-breaking. They collected 100 units of blood, she said.

“This kind of positive response rejuvenates your faith in

humanity,” Boston said. “It’s great to see that one person has

inspired so many people.”

The fire department and community members have also been

fund-raising to muster financial support for Slater’s family. On

Sept. 16, firefighters from Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley and Newport

Beach waited tables at the Claim Jumper restaurant in South Coast

Plaza to raise money. They collected about $9,600 at that Fill the

Boot event, Boston said.

Newport Beach residents Sandy Walsh and Angela Pearson, who were

in the Newport Heights Elementary PTA with Slater and his wife, will

bike 55 miles in the Las Vegas Century Bike Ride. Both women are

accepting pledges in Slater’s name.

Walsh, who is a nurse at Hoag Hospital Presbyterian, said she was

familiar with Slater’s kind and caring nature.

“I saw him all the time at the hospital,” she said. “He often came

back to check on patients he had rescued or brought in.”

Walsh called him “a model citizen, perfect father and loving

husband who goes above and beyond for anyone.”

“This is the least we can do for him and his family,” she said.

“And we’re doing this from the bottom of our hearts.”

FYI:

For more information about how to make a contribution for Brian

Slater, call Sandy Walsh at (949) 723-0164 or Angela Pearson at (949)

675-4286.