GREENBRIER, Ark. — Last month, a Faulkner County firefighter was rear-ended while he was at a stop waiting to merge.
Little did he know the unfortunate crash would save his life.
Chris Burnett has been a firefighter for Wooster and Greenbrier for a total of 27 years.
“I’m goin’ to keep my brothers comin’ home. That’s my favorite thing about it,” Burnett said.
Last month, his career came to a halt when his vehicle was struck from behind.
“A guy behind me I guess wasn’t paying attention [and] he rear-ended me," Burnett said. "I hit my head on the steering wheel. And then, as we were exchanging insurances, I just kept getting dizzier and dizzier."
After being taken to two hospitals, doctors revealed the true cause of his dizziness: Three malignant tumors were found on his brain and another on his kidney.
“The doctor told me in about two more months, I probably wouldn’t have woken up,” Burnett said.
The masses were found just in time.
“If the car wreck hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have known about any of this,” Burnett said.
The only symptom he had before seemed normal.
“Every now and again I’ll get a headache that just feels like a splitting migraine,” Burnett said.
Two days after the crash, the largest mass was removed from his brain.
He’s now awaiting an appointment with an oncologist in order to get treated with radiation.
“It was actually a godsend that the wreck happened,” Burnett said.
His fellow firefighters are helping him get around and are even keeping him company.
Burnett referenced you are your brother's keeper, an often-quoted term from the Bible that is circulated throughout firefighter units to exhibit the understanding that they take care of each other.
"Well, they’re keeping me for a little bit,” Burnett said.
People he’s never met are also reaching out just to tell him they have his back and are praying for him.
“It’ll humble you, knowing that there are that many people there that care,” Burnett said.
Burnett said he’s grateful for the support the entire community has shown him. A GoFundMe page has even been started in his honor to help fund his medical expenses.