Brothers in arms: Fund-raiser set for Evans Center Fire Chief Denny Allen By: MATTHEW CHANDLER
For Dennis Allen, he is more accustomed to being the one helping others. The life-long firefighter and EMT has devoted his life to being there in other peoples time of need.
Now the tables are turned and the man who it is estimated has responded to over 10,000 emergency calls in nearly 40 years on the job is the one in need of a lift.
The 55-year-old Angola resident was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2005. It is the same disease that took his brother David’s life when he was just 49. For Allen, the prognosis wasn’t good.
Despite his condition, Allen continued to work responding to calls and conducting business as usual.
To his friend and colleague John Latimore it was typical Denny.
“To see him, when he was sick, still going on calls...he never quit, never lost his fight, it was amazing.”
Eventually, Allen became to ill to work and the writing was on the wall: If he didn’t receive a double lung transplant, he would likely follow the same path his brother had several years earlier.
Fortunately for Dennis Allen it wasn’t his time to go. After having been on the donor list, waiting for that life-saving phone call, it finally came. On July 2, in Cleveland, Ohio, Dennis Allen underwent a double lung transplant procedure.
He returned to Angola last week and though he has a long road ahead of him, he feels fortunate to be where he is today.
“I’m doing well. I still have some issues to deal with but I’m in pretty good shape.”
Some of those “issues” include returning home with a catheter still in place to drain fluid from his right lung as well as the months of pulmonary rehabilitation he must go through. He also says the risk of infection in his new lungs is highest during the first year, and that an infection could be fatal.
“I have to wear a mask in public and I’m not supposed to be in large crowds of people.”
Though he has returned to his home, the fight is far from over for Allen. Unable to work he is facing thousands of dollars in uncovered medical expenses and other costs associated with his ordeal, which saw him spend 66 days in Cleveland clinic with his wife Marlene by his side.
Allen says many of “the guys” would drive out to visit him at his bedside, something he says made a huge difference.
“They all did so much for me, it has been unbelievable.”
It is those same men, many who have worked alongside Allen for years, who have banded together to help their fallen friend in his hour of need by organizing a benefit to raise money to help offset his medical expenses.
Tiger Schmittendorf, another of Allen’s close friends and fellow firefighter has led the effort to help his brother.
“Certain people work behind the scenes but manage to find their way into the spotlight...My friend Denny Allen has been on the scene more times in his lifetime than anyone else I know but he never stands in the limelight.”
For a man who has given so much of himself to help others, the limelight he has stayed out of will be shining bright on Sept. 6 when a full house is expected at the Evans Center Volunteer Fire Co. for the benefit in his honor. Unfortunately, though he is home, his doctors have advised him against attending, given that he can’t be in large crowds.
“My family will all be there (wife Marlene and sons Scott and Marcus) but it is looking like I won’t be able to be there.” He says there are plans in the works to set up a video feed where he could thank his many friends, colleagues and supporters from across Western New York who are expected to turn out for the event.
The fund-raiser will include food and drink, raffles, auctions and a special raffle of firefighter artwork with all proceeds going directly to the Allen family.
Dennis Allen says it is hard to put into words what the outpouring of support and the benefit mean to him.
“We are totally overwhelmed by the support we have received from the community. We would have never imagined this and we just want to thank everyone.”
For those who are working to support their Chief, it is the least they feel they can do for the life-long Western New Yorker, the 30 -year EMT, the firefighter who made two trips to ground zero in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, the man who has selflessly given so much to so many for so long.
His friend John Latimore calls Allen an inspiration.
“His commitment to the Fire Service and the community is unbelievable.”
Latimore shared a story that he says tells you all you need to know about Dennis Allen.
“I worked as his Asst. for many years and when I was raising my kids he would call me on Christmas Eve and say, ‘If we get any calls, I’ll handle everything, you’ve got the kids.’ He is a great friend and he has been an inspiration to me.”
As for his health, Allen says he is feeling better, though he does get winded and has to take it easy.
“Right now, the lungs are in good shape and it just feels good to be home.”
As he continues to recover from the surgery that saved his life, Dennis Allen can rest assured that he has left his mark not only on the fire fighting community in Evans, but on the community as a whole. In describing what made Allen so special, his friend Tiger Schmittendorf said it best.
“My friend Dennis Allen is always there when you need him...now Dennis Allen needs our help.”
To take part in the fund-raiser for Dennis Allen visit www.dennisallenproject.com.
To donate for the event or to purchase tickets, call John Latimore at 549-3311 or Tiger Schmittendorf at 549-0022.
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