Former firefighter shares personal story of survival and resilience in new book

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — A former Dayton firefighter is sharing his life experiences in his new book which came out May 1.

“Overcoming Tuesday” tells the personal story of former firefighter Jim Burneka with co-author Hilary Hawkins. The book title was inspired by an interview with 2 NEWS anchor Brooke Moore about first responders’ mental health.

“The normal citizen sees one or two traumatic calls in their lifetime. And for us, that’s just another day — a Tuesday,” said Burneka.

The book has an entire chapter focused on the aftermath of the Oregon District shooting in 2019. Burneka details how the event changed his approach to helping first responders cope.

As the wellness coordinator for the Dayton Fire Department, it was Burneka’s responsibility to provide resources for first responders following the tragic event. Eventually, the trauma he encounters on the job led him down a dark path of depression and anxiety.

“We really had to evolve with those times,” said Burneka. He adds that the additional resources were needed not only for first responders but also for their spouses.

Burneka has survived much in his life: cancer, CPTSD and the mass shooting event. He says the book is about hope and resiliency.

“There’s so many different resources that I had to use, like it wasn’t just one magic thing,” said Burneka. “It was using a multitude of resources to really get me on the other side.”

Burneka adds this book is not only for first responders but everyone who has suffered adversity.

Overcoming Tuesday can be purchased on Amazon in both paperback and hardcover.

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