Santa Barbara County firefighter Sam Dudley recently shared emotional stories of tragedy and hope, and how Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) counseling has helped him after experiencing grief and loss. Dudley spoke at Compassionate Care of Carpinteria’s (CCC) virtual event called The Light Shines Ahead.
Hospice of Santa Barbara came into Dudley’s life just four days before his father died.
Dudley said he was honored to be the keynote speaker for the Light Shines Ahead, where he addressed the issue of self-care in difficult times, and staying ahead of the curve in terms of one’s own emotional health.
He also talked about his experience as handler to Rhonda, the Fire Department’s first emotional support canine, and how she provides comfort and support to first responders.
“It was incredibly generous for Sam to allow himself to be so vulnerable and honest during our event,” said David Selberg, CEO of HSB. “Sam spoke so clearly from the heart about his experiences including finding a young victim of the Montecito mudslides and the importance of self-care.
“We are so fortunate to have him in our community.”
The event raised more than $37,000 for CCC programs and services. CCC, which was launched a few years ago, is an initiative of HSB and offers the same programs and services directly to the Carpinteria community.
Part of the growth of CCC includes some special events that seek to raise funds and awareness for its services. To learn more, visit compassionatecareofcarpinteria.org.
For more about Hospice of Santa Barbara, including volunteer opportunities, call 805-563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org.