The Good Life – March-April 2019

LOCAL HERO
ceremonial unit in North Dakota.
This group is asked to perform
funeral services for EMS workers
all over the state and region: “North
Dakota, Northwest Minnesota and
Northeast South Dakota, we go all
over,” added Martin.
He is also active in participating in
powwows and has been serving as
the chair of the F-M St. Patrick’s
Parade Committee. For twelve
years, Martin was on Fargo’s
Native American Commission with
a mission to be a conduit between
the Native American community
and Fargo and a liaison with
different programs promoting
Native American culture.”
During the summer, Martin enjoys
his spot on Toad Lake: “I like being
at the lake – the nature and the
quiet.” Martin’s spends his spare
time with his friends: “I am a
social person – I like being out and
experiencing life.”
Martin explained how F-M
Ambulance’s work impacts people:
“When I think about what we do,
there is a difference between
seeing immediate change and
seeing what happens afterward,
down the road. You may not see it
right away; it may take days, weeks
or months. But it is rewarding
when you see that whatever you
did helped and made life better for
that person.” For example, Martin
has assisted with the delivery of
eight babies during his time at F-M
Ambulance: “But the mothers do
all of the work,” he insisted.
When asked about the favorite
part of his job, Martin said, “I like
working with the people, with my
coworkers, seeing that every day
what I do makes a difference.”
Martin described his work as
“challenging: You never knowing
what you are going to see or find,
whether good or bad, and you have
to be able to cope with it.”
“In my role, we see a lot of bad
things that happen to people.
People are calling us at the worst
times of their lives. Sometimes
when you see a patient, yours might
be the last face they see and the
"In my role, we see a lot of bad things that happen to people. People are calling us at the
worst times of their lives. Sometimes when you see a patient, yours might be the last face
they see and the last voice they hear." – Don Martin
34 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com