The following article is a touching and personal story from Laurie Firmin, our Recruiter / HR Generalist. Laurie works out of Champion’s Headquarters location in Baton Rouge and has been a part of the team for a little over 6 years. She has had an enormously positive effect on both areas for which she is primarily responsible (Recruiting and HR).  She is also a trusted ear for all Champions and has taken the lead on the company Christmas parties for last several years. 

I come from a family of 5.  My younger brother had a drinking problem.  We all knew it.  The signs were there. We all knew that he needed help.  But he drifted from the family and it was just something we didn’t talk about.

In July of last year, he got really sick.  He was in a relationship with someone and their living conditions were not so good.  She was sick also.  Of course, we all thought they both had COVID but come to find out my little brother was diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the liver.  And to top it all off, his girlfriend passed away from the same condition.  So here he was, all alone and a total mess. 

He knew he was sick; he applied for Medicare and was approved.  When he went to the doctor, he found out his situation was that if he didn’t get a new liver in 3 – 6 months he would die.

So the challenges began and I knew he couldn’t do it alone.  First thing we had to do was go to the hospital and sign me up to be his primary care giver.  Next, I had to get him out of the apartment he was in and change his living conditions.  Luckily, my Aunt has a small summer home in Harahan and offered him to stay there. Last, but most important, we had to get him approved for the liver transplant.

Of course, you can’t just “get on the list” for a liver transplant.  There is a qualification criterion.  He had to stop drinking, go to AA meetings, go to an outpatient Rehab facility, and several other steps.  He was determined.  He was dedicated.  And he had me to be his punching bag (not literally of course).  The short story is that he did it and we were on the list!  I asked him how he was able to do it so quickly.  Just stop cold turkey like he did.  His answer was “Easy decision, I drink, I die.  I am not ready to die yet”.

Once he got on the list now it was a waiting game.  He had to give blood every other day to make sure he was not consuming any alcohol and to make sure his liver counts were stable so he could receive the new liver.  He was getting his stomach drained weekly.  It was a roller coaster of a few months.  We were just waiting for the call.

After a few false alarms, in late October he got the call and went in for the Transplant.  I got set up in the spare bedroom of my Aunts house to work and got ready to face the next challenge, caring for him after this major surgery.  It wasn’t easy – but we did it.

Looking back, it hit me.  This wasn’t about taking care of someone who was sick.  This was about helping someone succeed in life!  Helping someone become a better person and take control of their life.  This was more than just taking him to doctors appointments and helping him with his medication.  It was about encouragement, positive thinking, and helping him learn how to live again.  Being there for him.

Today, my brother is sober and looks better than he has in years.  He has confidence and is so thankful to be alive that he isn’t taking any day for granted.  He is not out of the woods yet and will need continued support.  But not as a “primary care giver” but as his sister, his family, his friend.  And that is what the CW – being for each other – means to me.

– Laurie Firmin

Each newsletter, we would like to include an inspirational story which is related to the Collaborative Way principles from a different team member.  If you are willing to participate please send your name to newsletter@champtechnology.com and someone will reach out to you with more details.