Lora Beegle took a job with Macon County’s Emergency Services department on Oct. 7, 1991, and 30 years later, she’s still doing all she can to keep Macon County residents healthy and safe.
Beegle came to the department right after graduating from Western Carolina University. She earned a four-year degree in criminal justice at the school and emergency services weren’t the direction she saw her first career going in. It turned out to be a natural fit for her, though, as she had a passion for helping people and she got to do that every day.
“I always knew that I wanted to help people,” Beegle said. “It’s all about getting to help the people of a community and provide a service you can take pride in.”
Thirty years later, one of the only constants has been change. Macon County EMS was only an intermediate service in 1991 instead of an advanced one, and Beegle was part of the first team to be trained as paramedics. It didn’t take her long to learn grace under fire in the field – one of the most memorable times of her career came just two years into her tenure with the infamous Blizzard of ’93.
“I remember I went to work on Friday night and then I worked all through the weekend until Monday afternoon,” Beegle recalls. “Then I went home just long enough to take a shower, went back to work that night and delivered a baby.”
Of course, there’s always a new obstacle to overcome in EMS. COVID-19 is putting employees to the test like never before with an increased volume of patients to take care of and the amount of extra work that needs to be done for each one. However, Beegle looks at every new challenge as an opportunity to grow. She says sticking around as long as she has means being willing to adapt, such as taking continuing education courses or altering her way of doing things when her younger coworkers bring new information to the table.
“The field has grown and advanced so much since I started,” Beegle said. “Even after 30 years, you’ve always got to keep learning and keep an open mind.”
The determination Beegle puts into her quality of work isn’t lost on her colleagues. The rest of the department knows they can count on her to handle any assignment with care and consideration.
“She’s a dedicated professional who has devoted most of her adult life to helping others,” EMS coordinator Todd Doster said of Beegle. “We’re very lucky to have her.”
Joey Gibson, who heads up the Community Care Paramedic Program, is impressed by how committed she is to making patients in the program feel cared for. She’s had to take extra precautions with visits because of the pandemic, but she always makes time for the people who need her.
“She’s a huge asset to making that program work,” Gibson said. “She’s got a heart of gold.”
Beegle has worked at three separate bases under four different department directors and alongside more partners than she can count off the top of her head during her 30 years with Macon County EMS, but she’s not done yet. She loves working in Macon County and feeling like an integral part of her community. Whatever struggles come with her job, the thing that keeps her going is knowing that there are sick and hurt people in her neighborhood who can get better and be happier if she does her part.
“I’m out there getting to know people in need and building relationships with them,” Beegle said. “The most rewarding thing is when I see them again and I can see they’re doing better.”