{"id":1319471,"date":"2020-04-15T18:45:52","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T00:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/?p=476742"},"modified":"2020-04-16T08:07:48","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T14:07:48","slug":"juds-joy-eagle-county-paramedic-heading-to-italy-to-help-coronavirus-relief-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/juds-joy-eagle-county-paramedic-heading-to-italy-to-help-coronavirus-relief-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"Jud\u2019s joy: Eagle County paramedic heading to Italy to help coronavirus relief efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image p402_hide\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20190929_145955-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20190929_145955-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20190929_145955-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20190929_145955-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20190929_145955-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20190929_145955-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20190929_145955-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20190929_145955-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>Jud Miller is heading to Italy on Saturday to help in an emergency field hospital for COVID-19 patients. He has the blessing from his family as well as his employer, Eagle County Paramedic Services.<\/strong><br \/><em>Special to the Daily<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Jud Miller has been with <a href=\"https:\/\/eaglecountyparamedics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eagle County Paramedic Services <\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i>since November, but he has been a medic for 18 years and has been working in emergency medical services for 21 years.<\/p>\n<p>Through work with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amr.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">American Medical Response<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fema.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">FEMA<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i> over the years, he\u2019s traveled across the globe to disaster relief areas, including multiple hurricane-ravaged countries.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, Miller, 41, is leaving his wife and two young sons to head to an emergency field hospital in Italy for one month with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samaritanspurse.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Samaritan\u2019s Purse<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i>, a humanitarian aid organization responding to the coronavirus in Italy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWorking in a disaster area, it\u2019s an area of comfort for me because I\u2019ve done it a number of times,\u201d Miller said while taking a break from packing on Wednesday. \u201cWhen I think of a disaster area or where people are suffering, dying or hurting, it\u2019s just the way God built me that I want to go in because it doesn\u2019t stress me out and it doesn\u2019t get me worked up. When I see people that are desperate in their darkest hour, I just want to do something to bring light to them.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\">\n<div class=\"row vail-donation vail-donation-mobile p-0\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/03\/VD-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/03\/VD-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/03\/vail-banner-paypal.jpg)\" class=\"col-xl-8 p-3 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/donate\/?utm_source=article&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=donation&amp;utm_term=&amp;utm_content=mid-article\">Donate<\/a><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Family\u2019s blessing<\/h2>\n<p>In 1999, Miller stumbled upon his first disaster relief trip in Nepal. There was a mixup in communication where organizers were under the impression Miller was an ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor), but we he was still able to go despite letting them know he was an EMT (emergency medical technician).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I got to go for several weeks and hike around Nepal to set up clinics in villages,\u201d he said. \u201cThat got the bug in me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Miller has been happily married to his wife, Tara, for 14 years. They met at a church in Leadville, where Tara grew up and Jud attended Colorado Mountain College. She would soon move to Denver to attend Colorado Christian University.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe just kind of followed me,\u201d Tara said.<\/p>\n<p>The Millers now live in Central City, a decent commute for Jud into Eagle County.<\/p>\n<p>When Tara first heard of her husband\u2019s desire to go to Italy for one month, she admitted she didn\u2019t like the idea. However, with faith in God, she opened up to the idea.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m really proud,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is Jud\u2019s joy to go serve, and it\u2019s time for me to just pull back and let him go and do his job.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With a solid support system locally, Tara is OK with her husband being gone from the family.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI said what are you looking forward to most?\u201d she said. \u201cHe said, \u2018The day I get home.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/IMG-20191009-WA0014-958x1024.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/IMG-20191009-WA0014-958x1024.jpg 958w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/IMG-20191009-WA0014-281x300.jpg 281w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/IMG-20191009-WA0014-768x821.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/IMG-20191009-WA0014-600x641.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/IMG-20191009-WA0014.jpg 1058w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 958px) 100vw, 958px\"><figcaption><strong>Jud Miller, right, has worked with international nonprofits over the years to provide relief to disaster areas. Pictured is Jud with others helping Samaritan\u2019s Purse with relief efforts after Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas last year.<\/strong><br \/><em>Special to the Daily<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Employer\u2019s blessing<\/h2>\n<p>In addition to the family blessing, Miller is tremendously grateful to Eagle County Paramedic Services, and the community, for supporting and allowing his decision.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know I\u2019m new, but I\u2019ve been in EMS a long time,\u201d he said. \u201cThe citizens of Eagle County are really fortunate to have such a world-class organization.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Eagle County Paramedic Services has always been at the top of Miller\u2019s list for places to work, so when the rare opportunity opened up, he was grateful to get in the door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe only way I could do this is with the support of Eagle County Paramedics,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>When Samaritan\u2019s Purse reached out about a month ago, Miller willingly declined because he knew his expertise was needed locally.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause of the diligent pre-planning that the county and paramedic service did to prepare for the worst, we were prepared for the worst, and I think we\u2019re seeing the COVID numbers trending down,\u201d he said. \u201cSo as far as staffing goes, the paramedic service is in a good place to have me go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And Miller thinks his time overseas will be a benefit to not only those in Italy, but the local community as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, I think it\u2019s going to be a win-win because I\u2019ll come home with a lot of new knowledge and expertise in treating those people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to returning home to his family, Miller said he\u2019s looking forward to returning home having done everything he can.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re in a very hopeless place,\u201d he said of residents in Italy. \u201cWhen this emergency field hospital showed up, faith was restored, and I\u2019m happy to be a part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Italy, Miller will be working in a \u201cmilitary-grade\u201d temporary hospital outside of the Cremona hospital in the Lombardy region, helping doctors treat people.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s kind of remarkable,\u201d he said of the opportunity. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to get the green light, and this wouldn\u2019t be possible without Eagle County Paramedic Services saying yes and supporting it.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20191004_144417-768x1024.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20191004_144417-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20191004_144417-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20191004_144417-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20191004_144417-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20191004_144417-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cdn.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/04\/20191004_144417-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><figcaption><strong>Jud Miller says working in disaster areas is an \u201carea of comfort\u201d for him. He will be in Italy for one month helping patients in dire need.<\/strong><br \/><em>Special to the Daily<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Before he leaves, Miller said he\u2019s been enjoying the nightly howls at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve seen it. It\u2019s really inspiring,\u201d he said. \u201cIt makes me feel like we\u2019re all on the same page and in this together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, Miller will fly from Denver to Charlotte to New York City to Rome to Milan. He\u2019ll return May 19.<\/p>\n<p>His sons, ages 5 and 7, are already asking their mother when they can go help, too.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe got these little boys who are already biting at the bit, ready to go,\u201d Tara said.<\/p>\n<p><em>Assistant Editor Ross Leonhart can be reached at 970-748-2984 and <a href=\"mailto:rleonhart@vaildaily.com\">rleonhart@vaildaily.com<\/a>. Follow him on Instagram at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/colorado_livin_on_the_hill\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">colorado_livin_on_the_hill<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/juds-joy-eagle-county-paramedic-heading-to-italy-to-help-coronavirus-relief-efforts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Vail Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jud Miller is heading to Italy on Saturday to help in an emergency field hospital for COVID-19 patients. He has the blessing from his family as well as his employer, Eagle County Paramedic Services.Special to the Daily Jud Miller has been with Eagle County Paramedic Services since November, but he has been a medic for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1319471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-04 02:20:13","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1319471"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1319479,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319471\/revisions\/1319479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1319471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1319471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1319471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}