I had the pleasure of meeting Jan a while ago and have been amazed what she has been able to do for others when I know there are days she can barley do for herself.

Jan has Fibromyalgia and there are days that even getting out of bed is a challenge, let alone going out in cold and/or stressful rescues.

Janet Vinyard
Rescue Squad Member
Monroe County Rescue Squad
Madisonville, TN

"When I joined the Rescue Squad it gave me the ability to be there for a patient during one of the hardest, most critical times in their lives...I was there and it makes me proud to be a Volunteer First Responder from Tennessee -- the volunteer state." Janet Vinyard has won a personal battle with breast cancer, survived open heart surgery, and other debilitating illnesses and this mother of two continually returns to her first responder duties as soon as she is physically able. On Christmas Day, 2010 Janet was a member of a squad dispatched to rescue a family stranded overnight on a state highway in 18 inches of snow at a 7000 foot elevation, trapped in their SUV. The trip required three teams in separate vehicles to travel approximately 40 miles in extremely bad weather. In spite of the harrowing experience along roadways with 40 to 100 foot drop offs, they rescued the family of five just before the family's car ran out of gas -- and heat! A Rescue Squad member since 2001, Janet was recognized at the squad's Annual Officers Installation Banquet as number two of the top ten first responders on the squad for 2010, missing number one by just three calls. She was hospitalized again this last year for three months and has successfully overcome serious life and death issues in her personal life which amplifies the qualities that make her a top notch first responder. Janet says that "The Squad is a large part of my life, my family, and my friends".
If you think Jan has what it takes to be an American Most Wanted All-Star, I ask you to click the link to vote for her.

AMW | All-Star 2011 Nominee | Janet Vinyard