BILLERICA – When Billerica first responders heard that EMT Brian McSweeney was coming home more than a month after a serious accident that injured his leg, they knew he might need some help getting in the front door.
“We were concerned that he would have difficulty getting into the house so we decided to build a ramp just to make it easier for him to get into the house,” said Billerica paramedic Shaun Silvia.
Silvia, who attended Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica, said he and his fellow first responders had the knowledge, skills and tools to build the ramp, they just needed the supplies.
“I called and placed an order with Timberline Enterprises LLC in Billerica. I’d mentioned that Brian is one of us, a Billerica paramedic, and we were going to build the ramp because he’s coming home. They knew the story and wanted to donate the supplies,” Silvia said.
Last month Silvia and his coworkers built the ramp at the EMT’s house in Pepperell just in time for McSweeney to come home the next day.
“Knowing he could get inside gave us peace of mind — it was just great,” Silvia said.
The very next week Silvia and some volunteers dropped by Timberline Enterprises LLC once again — this time to drop off lunch as a “thank you.”
“It’s the least we could do,” Silvia said.
McSweeney was injured on Jan. 31 in a freak accident after a driver slammed into him outside of a Starbucks in Chelmsford.
Police said that McSweeney was leaving the coffee shop shortly after he finished up his shift when a woman tried to park her car and went over the curb, pinning him up against the wall.
McSweeney suffered severe damage to his leg, losing a lot of blood, and was transported to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington for emergency surgery.
“We were all in shock and we’re all trying to come together to support him and his family in any way that we can,” said Billerica Deputy Police Chief Roy Frost at the time. “Myself and numerous others have reached out to him to offer our prayers and support.”
The driver of the motor vehicle was expected to be summonsed into court to face charges.
