The following is from an article on myFoxChicago.com:

Firefighters risk their lives every day to protect others, but one Kankakee firefighter is now facing a heartbreaking battle—on his own. Derek Hogg, a 31-year-old firefighter who joined the force in 2008, was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2012. The condition slowly robs the body of strength, and doctors told him he had only three to five years left to live.

Despite the grim diagnosis, Hogg refused to give up. “I loved being a firefighter,” he said. “I went back to work after I got the news.” He wanted to provide for his wife, Holly, and their two young sons. But as the disease progressed, he could no longer perform his duties. In 2013, he was moved to desk duty—but that job came with an expiration date.

With just months left before his disability status ended, Hogg’s fellow firefighters stepped in. They volunteered to cover his shifts, using their vacation and sick days so he could stay on payroll until June 1. That date was crucial: it would make him eligible for a $3,200 monthly disability pension, a lifeline for his family.

“It was a simple idea,” Hogg said. “The city wouldn’t lose a penny.” But when he brought the plan to Mayor Nina Epstein, she refused. She said she couldn’t approve it without legal clearance—and later changed her mind entirely.

Epstein told FOX 32, “I can’t look at things that way. I have to follow the law and protect the taxpayers.” Her decision left Hogg without a job and without the pension that could support his family.

At a recent city council meeting, Hogg and his supporters pleaded with the mayor for compassion. “I ask you to think like a human being, not a politician,” he said. But Epstein refused to reconsider, saying she couldn’t reverse her decision in public.

Hogg’s wife, Holly, expressed frustration. “It’s a bad situation, and they have the chance to help us. But they’re choosing not to.”

This isn’t the first time firefighters have helped a colleague in need. In Pittsburgh, a similar case saw firefighters take over shifts for a fellow firefighter with ALS. But in Kankakee, the mayor says she can’t make exceptions. “I have 300 employees,” she said. “Do you think this will be the last terrible situation?”

For Hogg, the fight continues—not just for his job, but for his family’s future.

Thanks, Dan

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