Oswego Firefighter Finds Support in Family and Community

Dave Sackett does not know the meaning of the word “quit.”

He’s the guy who never gives up, who always finds the silver lining and lives by his motto: “It is what it is, keep pushin' on.”

Sackett, an firefighter/paramedic, was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis in August 2010.

There are two types of MS, Sackett explained. Ninety percent of people diagnosed with MS have “remitting and relapsing,” which is when there are symptoms that occur but go away with treatment, to come back again and go away again. “They are the people that say their MS has good days and bad days,” said Sackett.

The other 10 percent are diagnosed with Primary Progressive, which is ongoing and results in permanent damage. Sackett is one of those 10 percent.

“Ten years ago, the doctors would have told me that I’d better get all the stress out of my life and quit my job because I’d be in a wheelchair in sixth months," Sackett said. "And guess what happened to those people? Now though, they tell you to ‘Just keep moving!’ So I am.”

Multiple sclerosis comes with a whole range of problems, from inflammatory issues, to autoimmune problems, to failing eyesight, muscle deterioration and a whole slew of others.

When Sackett got bronchitis about three months ago, he was worried since his autoimmune system was already compromised.

“You don’t want your autoimmune system to fight," he said. "It can’t tell the difference between the disease and the good cells.”

But bronchitis couldn’t keep him down and he was back on his feet before long.

Unfortunately, not everything in Sackett’s body is on the mend. He first realized the beginnings of MS when he would find his right foot dragging on his jogs in the morning.

“I at first thought it might be a pinched nerve or something,” he said.

But when the condition worsened, and after the complications of an open heart surgery he had back in 2009 for a heart murmur, he underwent several MRIs, CAT scans and ultimately a spinal tap that revealed the severity of his right foot and he was diagnosed with MS.

And that foot has been getting worse. Sackett called it "drop foot" where his right foot will no longer flex forward and instead hangs downwards.

Benefits of a "brotherhood"

Sackett has been with the Oswego Fire Protection District as a firefighter and paramedic for ten years. He described the relationship between himself and the OFPD as a “brotherhood” and that they’ve been behind him “100 percent of the way.”

When he was first diagnosed, Sackett was determined to stay and work. Battalion Chief Jeff Warren said he had no issues with Sackett staying on. But when the time came, Sackett needed to be honest with himself and honest with the team.

“And I told him that wouldn’t be for several years,” Sackett said.

And for almost a year, Sackett continued to do his job, spending 24 hours at the station and “on the street” assisting as a firefighter/paramedic and then 48 hours off-duty at home.

“But it was wiping me out,” he said sadly. On days where he was up all night, it’d take him both days off to recover. “And I had to ask myself if I could keep doing this. How long I could keep doing this.”

Sackett said his fellow firefighters were always willing to take his extra shifts if he looked exhausted, and would call home and tell his wife, Pieper, if he’d been having trouble sleeping or if he’d had a hard day. 

But eventually, in December, that time came. Sackett said he could barely speak when the chief asked if “it was time” and still gets choked up about it. “I loved my job," he said.

Sackett is still working for the OFPD, just in a different capacity. “I’m at the Fire Prevention Bureau—it’s a whole different side of the department hardly anyone’s heard of,” he laughed. 

Society and support

And he’s working for the National MS Society as an ambassador, as well as raising funds for his MS walking team, Team DaveBob, for the upcoming MS walk in on Chicago's lakefront May 6.  

Last year, the team raised almost $18,000, a record for a first-time team.

“His team was awarded Excellence in Fundraising,” said Pieper Sackett, Dave’s wife. “It was quite an accomplishment.”

The two looked into many different organizations that support MS but ultimately went with National Multiple Sclerosis Society as it did the most good for the most amount of people. 

“Some organizations give a good portion of their fundraising money to the executives to fill their own salaries,” said Pieper. “The society gives puts around 80% back into helping others.”

“Treatment, research and all the medications and living expenses,” added Sackett. “The average cost to a person who has MS is $69,000 a year. That’s a hell of a lot of money.”

This year, Team DaveBob has set a goal of $25,000, and with the support of his family and friends behind him, Sackett is working on reaching that goal.

“Nothing is more important to me than my family. Nothing. Without them, I don’t know if I could do this. Without this one,” he said, gesturing tenderly to Pieper, “I probably wouldn’t be here.”

And his family has been with him every step of the way. “[The OFPD] come out to every fundraiser,” said Pieper.

“The support has been unbelievable,” said Sackett.

The next fundraiser is set for Buffalo Wild Wings all day April 23. One just has to mention “Team DaveBob” for proceeds to go to the fundraiser.  Last time Buffalo Wild Wings hosted a fundraiser for Team DaveBob, the wait could be over half an hour just to get in the door as everyone turned out to lend a hand.

“The support really is amazing,” said Sackett. “That’s the only way you can make it through.”