“After I earned my associate’s degree in health education, I started an internship at Memorial Hermann. That led to a job in the Trauma Center working under Dr. Red Duke.

“There were other firsts and other EMS positions, but in 2004 I became the first female to hold the position of director of operations for a Harris County Emergency Services District.

“I went through a lot as a kid and it most certainly impacted me. But later in life, I realized that the things I endured made me the right person to do the job that I do. It’s a job that I love and am very passionate about.

“There are times I think I’m going to break. It can be quite draining. Then I say to myself, ‘You are a winner. You can do this. Failure is not an option.’

“So I get up every day before dawn to make sure every life in this district has the best chance for the best outcome in every situation that arises. I do this not because I am paid to do it, but because I truly care.”

— Christy Graves

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“The hardest part is trying to find out where the caller is located. People don’t think about it when they call 911. They start to ramble because they’re so scared.

“The first thing out of my mouth is, ‘What is your location,’ and they usually just start telling me what’s going on. So I’ll say, ‘You’re not listening to me, mam. I don’t know where you are.’ Then they can get angry. Or they may say, ‘I’m at Walmart.’ I’ll ask which one, then they’ll say, ‘You know, the one next to Burger King.’ I’m like, ‘I still don’t know where you are. I need an address.’

“And sometimes the calls are kind of funny. Eighty percent of 911 calls are not emergencies. They’re accidentally dialing 911. They’ll say, ‘I’m sorry, I butt dialed.’ Or sometimes even a baby will call.

“It’s the satisfaction of helping someone that makes you want to do this job. I may never meet any of the people on the other end of that phone line, but I’m happy if I was able to help them. I tell people it’s an adrenaline rush to feel like you did something that was selfless, that it benefited somebody else, not yourself. And that feels good.”

— Crystal Keeler

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