Local group seeks to aid former EMT Donald Reid Deal

For 35 years, former Arcadia-based paramedic Donald Reid Deal, known as Reid, helped to save others. Now, a local group is working to assist the recent amputee. “No telling how many thousands of people he has been there for when they needed someone the most. Donald is a good man with a big heart,” wrote Jimmy Davis, a co-founder of Compassion Inspiring Action. “Now he is truly in need and needs our help quickly. He had to have his leg amputated a few weeks ago. But now trying to figure out how he is going to get back inside his home is difficult.”

Compassion Inspiring Action Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Lexington. Its mission? To offer assistance to those in need in the community and surrounding areas.

Reid describes himself in good spirits after a below-the-knee amputation that he referred as “genetic,” noting his mother had similar issues due to circulation. He was thankful for the group’s efforts “They don’t wait for somebody to openly ask a lot of times; they will go ahead and do it. They are a great group,” Reid said. “I will pay it back. I have the tenacity to push forward.”

His home does not qualify for a wheelchair ramp according to the group, so the folks behind Compassion Inspiring Action are working to install a lift chair for mobility access. Reid hopes to purchase a prosthetic leg in the future. He has been a supporter and participated in Compassion Inspiring Action until health issues challenged his mobility. The group honored his 65th birthday with an online fundraiser. “What better gift to show a man who gave most of his life to serve his county than for his county to now serve him?”

The group still needs $1000 for this endeavor. Donations can be made via PayPal at compassioninspiringaction@gmail.com or thru cash app $compassioninc.