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© MyFoxDetroit.comBrendan Milewski (image from video)
A paralyzed Detroit firefighter is about to lose his health benefits. Brendan Milewski was injured on the job and left permanently paralyzed.

Now, he is losing his benefits because Detroit is going into bankruptcy.

Brendan Milewski was hurt by a piece of limestone that fell on him while he was working as a firefighter at the scene of an emergency. This left him paralyzed and unable to work. The Detroit firefighter requires ongoing physical therapy to stay healthy, but he is not expected to walk again.

The firefighter has received a recent notice letting him know his health benefits will end on Jan. 1, 2014. The city is offering a small montly stipend to help him, but it will not be enough to cover his healthcare costs.

Brendan Milewski had no other warning from Detroit that it was changing the health benefits, and he feels betrayed.

Brendan Milewski points out he worked for those benefits just like other firefighters. He is outraged that the bankrupt city feels it can throw away his benefits and simply cut them off.

His healthcare costs are high because of his paralysis, and he is not sure what will happen next. The firefighter lives in fear that his pension will be cut too.

Milewski is worried the city will leave him with no benefits or pension in the future. It has already shown it does not care about the benefits he receives. Now, the injured firefighter is scared something worse will happen. There are no savings left for him to rely on anymore, and he is thinking about next year.

The city of Detroit is putting the benefits and pensions of many first responders in jeopardy. The bankruptcy has led to drastic cuts and measures.

Now, the media is uncovering how the changes are affecting people. Brendan Milewski is just one example of a firefighter who will be hurt by the policy changes.

Brendan Milewski sees few options for him in the future. His paralysis means it is not possible for him to work. He still needs physical therapy every day, and this need will not fade in the future. He may try to find other healthcare options, but he is not hopeful. The high cost of his treatment will be difficult to cover.

The Detroit fire department had no comments on his story or benefits. The department has avoided talking about this recent issue.