Code Forty4

10/07/2026

Let that sink in for a moment...

The average first responder may be exposed to approximately 800 traumatic events throughout their career... 800!!!!!!

How are their brains and bodies supposed to process that kind of repeated exposure and then simply come home and return to “normal” life?

Most of us don't think about it.

And if we're being completely transparent, there are times when we dismiss it or simply don't understand what we are seeing in our loved one.

Sometime we don't understand how their job accumulates the trauma over time. How one call could build on another. And another. And another.

But here's the positive news:
We can learn and we can change how we respond.
We can learn to recognize the signals and we can encourage our first responders to acknowledge the weight they carry instead of simply pushing through it.

We can also learn about the tools and resources available to help them process it.

AND... there is healing!

That's why Code Forty4 exists...Not because we can change what our first responders will see throughout their careers.
But because we can change how prepared we are to support them through it.

It takes us all to fight this stigma together !! If this spoke to you, share it because you never know who it will reach that needs it TODAY !

Recognize. Respond. Support.

09/30/2026

September may be ending, but su***de prevention awareness cannot end with it. 💙

In our first responder community, the impact of the job doesn't always show up overnight. Sometimes it slowly creeps in. The critical incidents, the things they've seen, the stress they carry and the emotions they may not know how to talk about.

As spouses, family members and friends, we have an opportunity to become more aware, learn to recognize changes and understand how to respond when someone we love is struggling.

Is it always easy? No!! Is it something we naturally think about when life seems perfectly normal? Probably not!

We all want to live a "normal" life (whatever that means! LOL). But the reality is that our loved ones have chosen careers that can expose them to extraordinary stress and trauma.

So as September comes to an end, I have three things I'd love to encourage you to do.

1. Reach out to a first responder.

Let them know you see them, appreciate them and are there for them. Sometimes the simplest conversations open the door to something much bigger.

2. Start educating yourself.

Learn about the signs of cumulative stress and trauma. Understand what resources are available BEFORE you need them. Code Forty4 is one place where you can quietly listen, learn and explore these conversations without judgment.

3. Extend your village.

Think of someone you know who loves or supports a first responder. Share Code Forty4 with them, invite them into a conversation or simply let them know they aren't alone. We want to reach families before they're facing a crisis.

And to the families who have lost someone to su***de, we haven't forgotten you. We honor your loved ones and remain committed to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health.

Our mission doesn't end when September does.

Let's keep having the uncomfortable conversations, building our villages and making it easier for first responders and their families to find support.

You don't have to have all the answers to make a difference. Sometimes you just have to be willing to start the conversation. ❤️

Recognize. Respond. Support.

***dePrevention

09/22/2026

Have you ever needed an outfit for an event at the last minute?

You have two hours. You’re frantically going from store to store, nothing looks right, time is running out, and suddenly finding something to wear feels impossible.

We’ve all been there.

When emotions are elevated, time is limited, and the pressure is on, even simple decisions become harder.

Now, I’m not really talking about finding an outfit.

Think about what happens when your first responder experiences a critical incident. Or you notice they’re drinking more. Isolating themselves. Not sleeping. Or you simply know something isn’t right.

That is NOT the time you want to start frantically searching for help.

Where do we go?
Who do we call?
Who understands first responders?
What resources are actually available?

In Episode 5 of the Code Forty4 Podcast, I talk about the importance of building your village BEFORE the crisis hits.

It sounds simple, but too often we kick the can down the road thinking, We’ll figure it out if we ever need it.

But THIS is different.

Our loved ones will experience critical incidents. They will see and carry things most of us never will. We can't control that part of the job.

But we can prepare for how we respond.

Just like you wouldn't wait until two hours before the big event to start looking for the perfect outfit, let's not wait until emotions are high and someone we love is struggling to figure out where help exists.

Their mental health is far more important than whether that dress looks good on us. ❤️

Take a moment and share something that has helped you or your family along the way. Maybe it’s a resource, a therapist, a program, a habit, a conversation, or simply something you wish you had known sooner.

We are a community committed to supporting our first responders and their families. If something helped you, sharing it might be exactly what another spouse or family needs to hear today.

Let’s help each other build our villages. ❤️
Because help exists... even when it feels impossible to find

09/08/2026

Today is 988 Day.

Three numbers worth remembering: 9-8-8.

If you or someone you love is struggling, the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call, text, or chat.

You don't have to wait until it becomes a crisis to reach out.

Know the number. Share the number. Save the number.
You never know when you, or someone you love, may need it.

09/04/2026

Healing isn't easy... and it isn't always fun.

Our bodies are designed to protect us. When something dangerous happens, the body automatically goes into survival mode. And for first responders, that response is necessary.

We can't ask them to stop reacting to a critical incident. That's like telling someone not to scream when something scares them. The reaction happens before you even have time to think about it.

So what can we do?
We can encourage them to find healthy ways to help their nervous system come back down after the danger has passed.

That's the hard part.
Because you're essentially asking a body that has gotten REALLY good at protecting itself to learn when it's safe to turn that response off.

And it's one of the reasons they need YOU!

Not to fix them. Not to be their therapist. But to understand what may be happening, encourage them to take care of themselves, and remind them that they don't have to navigate it alone.

Healing isn't always easy. Especially when your body is stuck in protection mode.

Recognize. Respond. Support

09/03/2026

Today is a BIG day for Code Forty4.

Today, the paperwork was officially filed to begin the process of establishing the "Code Forty4 Foundation" as a nonprofit organization!

Now we anxiously (and patiently!) wait for the green light.

The founding Board of Directors has been built.
Our mission and vision have been defined.
And we are ready to start building even more resources for our first responders and their families.

The Code Forty4 Foundation will take our mission one step further by working to make resources and support available to first responders and their families at little to no cost, with the help of donations, fundraisers, and community support.

And I can't help but recognize the timing.
September is Su***de Prevention Month.

Of all the months for us to take this next step, it feels pretty special that it happened now. God's timing is always perfect.

As we wait for approval, we'll keep building, planning, educating, and preparing for what's ahead.

We are just getting started!!

Thank you to everyone who has believed in Code Forty4, shared our message, listened to the podcast, opened doors, and encouraged me along the way.

***dePreventionMonth

09/02/2026

I’m so proud of our local law enforcement leaders for their dedication to the “Make It Awkward” campaign.

Sometimes helping someone starts with simply asking the question.

For our first responders, let’s “embrace the awkward.” Ask the question. Start the conversation. Let them know they don’t have to carry it alone. 💙

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/01/2026

Throughout this month, I hope we take time to remember and stand beside the families who have lost someone to su***de.

There is an unimaginable pain in losing someone this way, especially when the weight of what they experienced through their career played a role in what became unbearable.

To every law enforcement family who has lost someone they love to su***de: we see you, we remember them, and we are committed to fighting the stigma in honor of the tremendous loss you have endured.

Su***de is not weakness!
Sometimes the voices, the memories, the smells, the sounds, the guilt, and the things they have carried as a first responder become louder than everything else around them.

For the last nine months, my commitment through Code Forty4 has been to bring awareness to the stigma surrounding mental health, build a community of support, and find resources that give our first responders and their families more ways to navigate the things they carry.

This September, I'm asking you to join me!!

Step outside of your comfort zone.
Check on someone. Have the conversation that feels uncomfortable. Learn about the resources available through our Code Forty4 community.

Remind a first responder that asking for help is strength, not weakness. And if you're a spouse, don't underestimate the importance of simply creating space for your person to talk.
Because when someone is struggling alone, the thoughts can get louder. Let's make sure our support gets louder too.

Recognize. Respond. Support.

08/29/2026

Maybe this is the sign you needed today!

Just the facts, ma'm. If you're serious about first responder wellness and resilience, First Responders' Bridge is confidential, free, and providing mission critical after care. Since 2019, the Bridge has welcomed more than 2500 first responders and their significant others to our retreats to receive information and education about traumatic layering and the toll the job is taking on you and your family. We welcome LE, Firefighters, EMS, Corrections Officers (non-certified Sheriff's Deputies assigned to Corrections, this includes you), and 911 Dispatchers from all 50 states. Following the completion of a retreat, each Ohio attendee is eligible for six (6) free counseling sessions with a vetted clinician. You are responsible for the cost of travel, but the Bridge pays for your hotel accommodations, meals, and all programming. (No, LE, there is no catch :) We never want cost to be the reason someone doesn't get the help they need and deserve. Attendees frequently tell us the Bridge saved their life and/or their marriage. We are now registering for the December retreat. Your healing journey begins with a click:
https://firstrespondersbridge.org/retreat/

08/26/2026

OHIO event for First Responders...

A little about the event:

Post Traumatic Purpose is an empowering course on leadership, mental wellness, and resiliency designed specifically for first responders and those who serve our communities

Travis is an international tour speaker, author, and motivational wellness educator drawing an 14 years of service as a US Marine, Police Officer, and Firefighter

Cost is $20
Location: Wapakoneta Performing Arts Center
I'll put the full event details in the comments for anyone's spouse or loved one that might be interested in joining.