ELIZABETHTOWN — Donna Cagle has been selected by her fellow employees as Bladen County Emergency Medical Services “Medic of the Year for 2008.” Votes were submitted through secret ballot based on the medic’s achievements; advancement of education; ability to work as a team with coworkers; and job performance.

Cagle began her medical career shortly after graduating from Bladenboro High School by obtaining a certification in geriatric care from Bladen Community College in 1992. After working in geriatric care for about 13 years, she decided that she wanted to further her education in the medical field and returned to Bladen Community College to earn a certification as an emergency medical technician (EMT).

Getting a job as an EMT did not come easy because in August of 2005, Cagle injured her knee and was not able to work. However she did not give up and on June 1, 2006, began her career as an EMT with Bladen County EMS.

Bad luck seemed to follow her as in May 2007 Cagle was responding to a medical emergency with Bladenboro EMS when she fell and broke her right leg and dislocated her ankle. It wasn’t until October 18, 2007, that she was able to return to work with Bladen EMS.

After returning to work, Cagle enrolled again at Bladen Community College to further her education in the prehospital medical care, again facing obstacles that would have caused most to give up. But Cagle persevered and maintained her focus in spite of the difficulty, and recently received the certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate.