I am a father, a husband, a brother, a son, an uncle, a cousin, a friend, and most importantly a human being,
a human being whose life could have been destroyed in a flash because of my chosen profession.

During my career as a firefighter, I have seen - up close and personal - the results of drunk driving.
A human head in a back seat, an armless, legless torso in the street.
With a broom and an industrial street sweeper's pan, I have swept up bits of flesh, a hand, a foot, a face off the street.
I have washed blood and gasoline and oil and shattered glass into storm drains.
I have put bodies and body parts in zippered bags.

I have handled the bodies of people who burned to death,
children and babies are the worst.
I have ministered to seriously burned people still alive.
Seen their flesh slide off into my hand like the skin coming off a charred marshmallow.
I have heard their screams of pain and cries for relief.
In situations like that, it is not easy to remain calm and do your job.

I am not defending Anne Heche, I am not her defense attorney.
Undoubtedly her actions that day are criminal,
and, Yes, her actions "could have" caused death, her own or someone else's,
but it didn't. No one died in that crash, so "could have" is a non-starter.
Witnesses said, "She's lucky to be alive."

I "could have" died fighting a fire - came close a number of times - but I didn't.
For that, I thank God and a few good firefighters.

Due to her own criminal recklessness, Heche was severely burned,
she is in ICU, intubated to help her breathe,
her road to recovery will be long and painful.
It is highly unlikely a movie or TV producer will ever again send her a script,
or call her to audition for a part. Her acting career is over, her life is ruined.

And, you think she should "reap the consequences" for her actions.

OK, whatever you say. MOM.