Any suggestions for corrections?

It’s The Little Things
In my line of work, my passion for helping others can often times be a thankless job. Once in a while, in the midst of pain, suffering, and chaos, I experience feelings that are in contrast to what is going on. There is warmth that has nothing to do with the temperature of the room, which goes to the heart. It’s a sense of worth and accomplishment and that smile that stays for the rest of the day. These feelings can come from an award presented from the city, more often than not; it’s awarded through a look, a touch, an action or a smile.
As an EMT, not all my patients are able to speak. I have to rely upon other forms of communicating. My first patient is laying there on the gurney; her husband is riding with to the hospital. She knows I know where the broken bones, bruises and cuts came from. It’s an unspoken acknowledgement that passes between us. She’s going to get help to escape him this time and she knows she’s safe. She isn’t able to move her jaw, it’s broken, but expression tells me she’s thankful for the help she’s receiving. Relief comes over her that I have seen through the lie about falling down the stairs. My sense of worth expands with her look of peacefulness.
In my next call, there was an urgency to rush her husband of 60 years to the Stroke Center as his vitals deteriorate. All thoughts of him and their life together are going through her head. As I fill out my report, she timidly places her wrinkled soft hand on top of mine, I feel a gentle squeeze. From that quiet squeeze, I know she’s conveying her gratitude for the care given to her husband. The sense of accomplishment flows through me.
My last call of the day is a little girl with curly hair in pigtails as huge tears still fill her big brown eyes. As she sits in her mothers lap, the cries have diminished to a few hiccups. Asking her about her kitten, I mention how cute and fuzzy he is. Gaining her trust, she looks up at me, her 2 year old face breaks into a smile and she says Santa brought her that kitten for Christmas. That smile of trust has meant a job well done. She no longer fears the lights, the strange people surrounding her, poking and prodding. She knows I’m there to help, that I can be trusted, and I know about her beloved kitten. I have won her over, gaining her trust so that I can treat her injuries. The sense of accomplishment leaves me with a warm feeling as I tidy up in the back of the ambulance, preparing for the next call.
Of course, EMS isn’t always about saving lives or every patient is thankful for what I have done for them. They can be physically and verbally abusive. Sometimes the patient passes away in the back of that ambulance, despite the best efforts and care. Those are the thankless calls, the ones that bring that fluttering question: Is all this really worth it for me? That’s when I remember I can’t save everyone nor can I always be a hero. But to bring some comfort, a blanket to fend off the night chill or to hold the hair as someone becomes sick, it’s the little things that count just as much as the big ones. It’s the little things that make it all worth while. I smile knowing I give to my patients a part of me, who I am on every call. As I wait for the next call to come, by the way that I feel, I know and I’m doing the right thing.

often times = redundant; just use "often"

"the room, which goes to the heart." = dangling modifier

"presented from the city" -- use "by" not "from"

"the city, more often than not; it’s awarded through a look, a touch, an action or a smile." -- I think the semicolon and comma before it are misplaced.

Please go over your paper with the following in mind. Thanks to PsyDAG for the following:

In the future, if nobody is available to proofread your work, you can do this yourself. After writing your material, put it aside for a day — at least several hours. (This breaks mental sets you might have that keep you from noticing problems.) Then read it aloud as if you were reading someone else's work. (Reading aloud slows down your reading, so you are less likely to skip over problems.)

(You can also either read it aloud to someone else or have someone else read it aloud to you! The latter works really well!)

If your reading goes smoothly, that is fine. However, wherever you "stumble" in your reading, other people are likely to have a problem in reading your material. Those "stumbles" indicate areas that need revising.

Once you have made your revisions, repeat the process above. Good papers often require many drafts.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And here are three really good websites that will help, too.

http://blog.eduify.com/index.php/2009/10/28/editing-secrets-everyone-should-know/

http://teacher.sheboyganfalls.k12.wi.us/staff/dehogue/FSSH/proof.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/proofing.htm

Overall, the writing in this passage is well-written and evokes a sense of emotion and empathy. However, there are a few suggestions for improvements:

1. Formatting: Make sure to properly indent the paragraphs. Each new paragraph should start with an indentation to make the text more visually organized and easier to read.

2. Punctuation: There are a few instances where punctuation could be improved. For example, in the sentence "She isn’t able to move her jaw, it’s broken, but expression tells me she’s thankful for the help she’s receiving," it would be clearer if a comma was placed after "jaw" to separate the clauses.

3. Clarity: In the sentence, "As I fill out my report, she timidly places her wrinkled soft hand on top of mine, I feel a gentle squeeze," it might be better to separate this into two sentences for clarity. For example, "As I fill out my report, she timidly places her wrinkled soft hand on top of mine. I feel a gentle squeeze."

4. Description: Consider adding more specific and vivid descriptions to help paint a clearer picture for the reader. For example, instead of saying "unspoken acknowledgement," you could describe the subtle exchange of glances or a nod between the EMT and the patient.

5. Proofreading: Proofread the passage for any spelling or grammar errors, such as misspelled words or incorrect verb tense.

By making these suggested corrections and improvements, the passage will be even more engaging for the reader, highlighting the impactful moments in the EMT's work.