PTO Pain – The Night the Tractor Won

PTO Pain – The Night the Tractor Won

Dispatched & Dysfunctional – Because sometimes the worst calls make the best stories.

Welcome to Dispatched & Dysfunctional — where the darkest moments become stories of resilience. These aren’t polished hero tales. They’re the raw, unfiltered truths of EMS: the calls that scar, the ones that save, and the ones we carry forever.

🚑 One night I was out in the yard, trying to fix my son’s ATV before crew change offshore. It was supposed to be quick. Instead, my old Kubota tractor slipped, rolled, and pinned my ankle in the dark.

The weight crushed down and the pain hit like fire. I’ve worked trauma scenes before, but nothing prepares you for becoming the patient — lying on the ground, helpless, realizing you might not be able to get yourself out.

What followed was its own brand of chaos: the scramble to get free, the ride to the ER, the surreal blur of X-rays, fracture blisters, surgery delays, and the kind of conversations where doctors hedge their bets instead of giving answers. And of course, the gallows humor that only EMS could deliver — because within hours, my coworkers had already turned it into a meme: “Stockton got run over by a John Deere.”

This story isn’t just about an accident. It’s about how quickly control turns to chaos, and how even responders need support when the sirens are for them instead of because of them.

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Graphic EMS content, traumatic injury, and dark humor. Listener discretion advised.

Why It Matters: Because sometimes the responder becomes the patient. And when that happens, it strips away the illusion of control. Pain and vulnerability replace adrenaline and training. This story is a reminder that we’re not invincible — and we’re not supposed to be. Survival isn’t just about grit. It’s about leaning on coworkers who crack jokes to keep us laughing, and families who hold us up when we’re down. The truth is, the tractor wins sometimes. But the people around us make sure it doesn’t keep us down forever.

🧠 Need support? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

💬 “I’d rather hear your story than read your eulogy.”

📬 Want to share your story? Visit critical-run.com or message us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional

🧠 Need support right now? Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight. 📱 Follow us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional   🌐 Visit: www.critical-run.com to connect, share your story, or just vent   🎤 Got a call that changed you? Submit your story — we’ll carry it with care (and maybe a little dark humor). ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast contains graphic content, emotional storytelling, and dark humor based on real-life EMS and first responder experiences. Listener discretion is advised.   Any medical discussion is personal opinion, not medical advice. Always follow your local protocols, medical direction, and training guidelines. This podcast isn’t about fairy tales. It’s about real calls, real chaos, and the medics who survive both.   Dispatched & Dysfunctional — because sometimes the worst calls… make the best stories.