CHICAGO (Wales) — A Chicago firefighter has a long road to recovery after suffering a life-changing injury last week.

He was injured at that time fighting a fire in the city’s Burnside neighborhood.

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John Anderson is now partially paralyzed, but his fellow firefighters are coming together to help Anderson and his family with their mounting medical expenses.

Anderson is described as a character known for always making jokes.

“You don’t stay around him for long without laughing at something,” Chicago Fire Department Capt. Chris Steinmetz said.

Steinmetz knew Anderson very well. They are both firefighters working at a fire station in Burnside.

At 50, Anderson is the oldest among his colleagues. He took on the role of father figure and took on duties as a fire department cook.

“One of the best things about being here was the great food every day. It was always outstanding,” Steinmetz said.

But now Anderson is being cared for by colleagues after suffering a serious injury.

On Friday night, firefighters responded to a house fire at 90th Street and Langley Boulevard when a large object fell on Anderson while he was outside.

He is now permanently paralyzed from the waist down.

“Right before this, we had just come back from a fire. So we were just working with each other. Then in the blink of an eye, things changed,” Steinmetz said.

Anderson’s older brother, Roy, is among those stunned by the tragic turn of events.

Both continue the family tradition of firefighting.

“His brother, father, grandfather, uncle and cousins ​​all served in the fire department. His grandfather actually died in the line of duty in 1962,” Steinmetz said. he said.

Steinmetz said Anderson has had a tough road to recovery, but it appears he’s doing the best he can.

“He’s in very good spirits; he was joking around. He was pretty much back to the old John,” Steinmetz said.

Steinmetz started a fundraiser to pay for Anderson’s medical expenses and home renovations. Visit www.theyardfoundation.org/mayday/john-anderson for more information.