Hands of an Angel, Mind of a Demon, Heart of a Saint: True Stories From a 10 Year Paramedic

by David Chase Stone

A heart-wrenching account of one medic's journey through the sorrow of managing the emergencies of others.  This tell-all story will put you on the front line of the reality of street paramedicine.  From gruesome and violent encounters to making split-second decisions which may have cost a life, experience the emotional struggle our responders have to deal with on a daily basis.  Through the highs and lows of his career, ten-year Paramedic David Stone doesn't hold back as he tells of the circumstances which haunted him and eventually drove him out of the career... and why it was all worth it in the end.  Ride front seat with this thrill-packed memoir encompassing over a decade of true stories from the medic who experienced it.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

200 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2017

About the author

I am a husband and father of four young children. I had been involved in emergency services since I was eighteen. I ended my service as a Paramedic to spend more time with my family and live a more meaningful life. I am not an author. I initially wrote about my calls as a coping mechanism to deal with the stress I was facing. Although I did not like the path emergency services had taken my life, what I learned throughout my career ultimately changed me into who I am today. I wrote this book to share my experience in hopes it could help others in ways I may not yet understand.

Reviews

[Halie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

So relatable and well written! Interesting stories could hardly put it down definitely a must read I loved this book!

[Ellis Hastings · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars. I enjoyed the book; however, there were multiple grammatical and spelling errors, as well as about 20 pages coming loose and ripping out of the book when I turned the page. Being a student of this field, it is always interesting to read memoirs by others in EMS. However, I would not recommend this to anyone who isn't going into the field. On the other hand, I would HIGHLY recommend Kevin Hazzard's "1000 Naked Strangers" to anybody, even those without even the slightest interest in the field. Kevin's book was traditionally published, while this book; while entertaining, was clearly self-published. As stated before, the pages rip out of the binding upon turning them and the paragraphs are over-ripened with bad grammar and poor word choice. I didn't hate it (because this is my major) but most people reading this review who aren't EMTs probably wouldn't find the book very readable.

[Melanie Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as good as it gets!

The wonderful journey that you as a reader gets to take with the author is mind blowing. It presents the human side of learning and working as a paramedic, that we as either patients or society in general just don't think about as we should. It's true that we often want to hear the gory stories, without thinking about the people who went through it. We need to thank and honor these heroic people, that are taken for granted .

[jill silverman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this. I felt that he overthought every situation until the very end when he FINALLY got comfortable. Mistakes we all make will teach us for the next situation but nothing is ever written in blood in medicine! I say this as an old E.R. nurse. Wonder what he is doing now and have a healthy respect for the courtesy he extended every patient he encountered. It aint easy that's for sure.

[Stefanie O'dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Great stories. It's not often you hear of the burnout. Stone covers his topic well! I thoroughly enjoy that he mentioned that he never got asked what his best call was. Working in vet med, I never get asked what my best case was, only the sad and worst things I've seen. Read this, you won't be sorry.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative

Not sure what I felt about this book. Seemed to be very mixed up and not well written. It was a disappointment. It left me feeling like I was suspended with no ending.

[Stephanie Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real life of a paramedic

This book was like a real life ride along with him. It was interesting, sad and heartbreaking. To see how the years of fighting trama beat him down both mentally and physically, was eye opening.

[Danette Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

I really have a better appreciation for you Medicis.
I known couldn't do it!
Thank you for this story and I also believe in demons and angels.
I hope your life is somewhat balanced after leaving the field.

[Elizabeth Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just because

I work st UCH in Denver and I know all the places you have been it was like riding with you. I have a lot of respect for what they do my brother was a Emt and paramedic ,LPN .So thank you for helping the people of Colorado.

[F Rahlo Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written

Good 1st person account of a hectic, harrowing, rewarding and too many times heartbreaking career. Job well done. Nice photos

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bless these people

Takes you inside the mind and life of the real heroes. I had no idea what they had to go through until I read this

[Ngamako N Patara · Rating 5 out of 5]

No I'm not a Medic

Absolutely a cannot put down book. I have seen these people in action.
I watched them save my aunt. There were angels helping them. Amazing
I will never forget.

[Laura Symons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend

Proper page Turner of a book. Eye opening raw and honest I couldn't stop reading. Left me thinking about it.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read

[Shira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the best books I have read- the courage and selflessness of first responders is beyond admirable.

[Duane Meeter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incidents from the life of a paramedic. Unfortunately, not well-written and poorly proofread. Self-published.