A Miami firefighter recovering from an injury he got on the job celebrated his 48th birthday surrounded by fellow firefighters and a surprise visitor.
Captain Ray Pampin was battling a fire at Navarro Discount Store and Pharmacy in Little Havana three weeks ago when he fell nearly 20 feet into the store - hurting his lower back and legs.
"My pain is gone," Pampin said Wednesday. "It's just the discomfort and the numbness in my leg and the discomfort of the (back) brace and everything else, but I'm feeling a lot better."
At his home Wednesday afternoon, Pampin said his firefighter brothers are a big part of what's making him feel better on his birthday.
"Thank you everybody for coming," he told them. "This means a lot."
Also making him emotional was seeing Hollywood Firefighter Derek Aviles walk through his front door.
"You make my eyes water buddy," he told Aviles.
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Aviles broke his neck in 2010 after falling while he was skimboarding during a day at the beach with his family. He spent six months in the hospital on a ventilator and spends most of his time in a wheelchair.
"The first thing I thought of was Derek," Pampin's wife Isabell Rogers said, speaking about her husband's injuries. Aviles' invitation was a surprise from Isabell.
"He got teary-eyed and he usually doesn't," Rogers said. "He lit up."
Aviles said he made the trip to let Pampin know things will get better.
"I know how it feels to be immobile," Aviles said. "I know how it feels to have everything stopped in an instant. I just want to let him know there's a brighter day coming."
Pampin, who is a 25-year veteran with the fire department, said in about three months, his back brace and leg cast will come off. He is looking forward to getting back to work.
Aviles is back at work with the Hollywood Fire Department, but on light duty.
