It was always Kyle Clay's dream to become a firefighter.

Whether it was seeing his father put on the uniform for the Gwinnett fire department, hanging around the firehouse, roller skating on the sidewalks nearby or playing laser tag near the bright and shiny fire engines, it's something he always wanted to do.

Clay can't answer when exactly he decided that he would follow in his father, Larry's, footsteps but as soon as he finished high school it was off to the fire department.
It was a dream come true, as Clay first put on the uniform of the Rockdale County fire department and fought countless fires from the Hightower Trail station for two years.

"There wasn't a particular moment in time (when I remember wanting to become a firefighter), I just knew all through high school," Clay said. "When I was done with high school I jumped straight into it."

Clay lived his boyhood dream until midway through May when he first started noticing his face felt numb, couldn't write things down properly and then suffered something similar to a massive stroke.

The Rockdale County firefighter and Walton County resident was taken to the hospital in Athens, then to Emory where he was diagnosed Cavernous Malformation at the age of 21.

According to the Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, Cavernous Malformation occurs when small blood vessels, in Clay's case in his brainstem, become enlarged and form an object, causing the walls of the capillaries to become thinner and leak blood.

The symptoms do not show up in everyone who has the disease, which could begin before birth.

Clay first felt the symptoms when he was hanging out in the firehouse when he felt the left side of his face was numb. The next day he went to write something, and couldn't do it very well.

"The next day I went to the Gwinnett clinic and they sent me straight to the emergency room," Clay said.

From there he went to see a specialist at Emory and the diagnosis was not terrific, however with the help of an attitude that has led him to safety through countless fires and the support of a very supportive family he was able to pull through the worst of it.

"They've been very good every day, especially my mom," Clay said. "She didn't miss a single day."

One of problems he has been facing is lack of short-term memory, so he cannot recall what he went through directly after the stroke-like attack, with the exception of a few details.

"For a while I couldn't move a pillow under my head," the Rockdale County firefighter said. "But not a lot of stuff gets me down, so I didn't let it bother me."

Recently Clay has not only been getting out of his wheelchair more and more, but also took a walk to a river near his house through a patch of woods.

As he continues to take steps out of his wheelchair, Clay hopes his next step in life will be getting back to his fire house and putting the uniform on once again.

"As soon as I get better I would love to get back," Clay said. "I can't stand not working."

The Hightower Trail station is keeping Clay's spot for him, along with doing other things such as donating all their vacation days so he can continue to earn a living, and raise money for his hospital bills.

Also helping to raise funds is the Firedogs M/C, who are hosting a benefit motorcycle ride. The ride is Sunday, Aug. 21, leaving from Gwinnett Fire Station No. 20 on 1801 Cruse Road in Lawrencville and ending at the American Legion Post 127 at 2640 Sawnee Avenue in Buford.

There will also be live bands, door prizes, a 50/50 drawing and T-shirts available for $15 per person.