Riding the Lightning

A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic

By: Anthony Almojera

Narrated by: Anthony Almojera

“An intense look at the high-stakes world of a NYC paramedic in the months before and after COVID-19 altered our landscape.”—Damon Tweedy, MD, author of Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine

The education of a New York City paramedic, whose tales of tragedy and transcendence over a single year culminate in the greatest challenge the city’s emergency medical system has ever faced: COVID-19.

As a seasoned paramedic and union leader, Anthony Almojera thought he could handle anything his job threw at him. Like many medical first responders, he came from a troubled background and carried the traumas of the city as well as its triumphs. He had grown up in the rough-and-tumble Park Slope of the 1980s, been homeless for a time, and had watched murder, addiction, and hopelessness consume those closest to him. But he had dedicated his life to helping people in need, and while every day was filled with tragedy—stabbings, shootings, accidents, suicides—it also brought moments of uplift: births, resuscitations, and rescues that reminded Anthony and his coworkers why EMS was the most thrilling job on earth, even if the pay was lousy and the hours were long.

So when a strange new virus began spreading in New York, Anthony and his fellow medics were ready. They had done the biohazard drills; they knew the procedures, and how to handle the sick and the bereaved. They believed that their lives and training had prepared them for this new challenge. But the months ahead would prove them wrong, and would push New York’s EMS workers, and Anthony himself, to the breaking point—and beyond.

Following one paramedic into hell and back, Riding the Lightning tells the story of New York City’s darkest days through the eyes of its frontline medical workers and the community they serve: ordinary people who will continue to make New York an extraordinary place long after it has been reborn from the ashes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

©2022 Anthony Almojera (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Must read If your in EMS

Very eye opening, Shocking to know that's how we treat our EMS workers. It was kind of all over the place but the message was a good one.

I think anyone in EMS can truly understand every emotion they went through.

when he was talking about how he felt during the pandemic and wondering why the rest of the country wasn't more prepared. after seeing what they went through. we did however, some states like mine are not even as big as New city it's self. So we didn't have to deal with some of the same things they did. This was such a great book

Personal and universal

Anthony invites us into his most intimate and private thought and experiences. By telling his story he tells the story of EMS during the pandemic years

Excellent presentation

of what so many people who give their all to save others lives while sacrificing the quality of their own lives.

to my consin Anthony

I Listened to your audio,book.I really enjoyed your book,but you mentioned nothing about me or my sister Esther.Am pretty sure you could have mentioned something about us even if it was ,short.anyway take care of yourself and write another book soon.God Bless

A real story about life

Hearing the words in the author’s own voice adds authenticity to this heartbreaking, heroic, touching, and raw story. This novel exposes a part of the pandemic that most people either didn’t know about or tried not to see. Thank you for all those you have helped and for sharing your story with the world.

great listen

currently an EMT for station 59 for FDNY for nine months out of the academy and been an EMT for four years come the end of August. I had heard stories of colleagues that worked during the pandemic as I had in the private sector. hearing this made me appreciate everyone that worked EMS for FDNY all the more. thank you, Anthony, for sharing your story. great listen and stay safe, lt.

Must read !!

Myself as a first responder was afraid of this read but after I didn’t feel alone after this I went through and still going through the same feelings. This was amazing definitely great book for people that don’t know what goes on in a life of an Emt / paramedic …. We are human also. Thank you Anthony for sharing your story to the world ….

Captivating

The wit, charm and emotional rawness of the character and the story, had an irresistible appeal. A totally captivating and consuming read.

Honest, brutal and compassionate.

The author takes you through a tale of one year, maybe one of the craziest, of NYC EMS. Interspersed with stories about his life, he deftly illustrates what it’s like to be part of NYC EMS. Read in his own voice, he keeps you interested and wanting to know what’s next.