Code Forty4

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.

08/24/2026

“ they said, taking magnesium glycinate has been a game changer for them.”

That was a comment my husband made during a conversation we were having a few nights ago.

It took me about 5 seconds to say… wait, WHAT?!

A first responder he had been talking with recently started taking magnesium glycinate after his recommendation and that was his response.

That’s AMAZING!!

In Episode 15, Dr. Heather Heck talked about magnesium glycinate and how this is often a deficiency in first responders.

But what can magnesium actually help support?

* Relaxation and a calmer nervous system
* Better quality sleep
* Normal nervous-system function
* Helping the body wind down after those high-stress shifts

And for someone whose body spends WAY too much time in fight-or-flight mode, those things matter even more.

So now I just need to figure out how to get magnesium glycinate supplied to every first responder for free. 😂
(Anyone have a connection with a manufacturer?!) ha!

Until then, here’s my challenge:

If your spouse is a first responder, do a little research whether magnesium glycinate might be appropriate for them.

If it is, try it consistently and pay attention.

Are they sleeping better?
Do they feel less tense?
Are they winding down easier after a shift?

To be clear, Is magnesium a magic wand?

NOPE

Could taking care of what’s happening INSIDE their body be one small step toward helping them feel better mentally?

YES, ABSOLUTELY

Sometimes we don't have to fix everything at once, We just have to find the next step.

Recognize. Respond. Support.

08/20/2026

Fun event for Hancock County, Findlay OH First Responder Community !!

We are proud to announce we are having a FREE performance for First Responders and their families of Come From Away on September 10 at 7:00 PM in R. L. Heminger Auditorium.
This performance is presented through the generous support of the Findlay/Hancock County Community Foundation's Judge Allan H. Davis fund.

08/18/2026

POP QUIZ… and no Googling or asking AI.

Do you know what metabolic health is?

Maybe a better question: Do you know what it could have to do with the mental health and wellness of your first responder?

I’ll admit, when I first heard the term, I wasn’t sure either.

But what if what’s happening inside the body could be influencing energy, sleep, stress response, mood, and the ability to recover?

We’re digging into metabolic health and why first responders and their families may want to understand it.

New Code Forty4 episode dropping next week!

Until then… tell me in the comments: What do YOU think metabolic health means? No cheating!