Pelham Gardens man serves community
25-year-old Abel Collado works for the FDNY and Ready Responders
BY JASON COHEN
Raised by a single mom
with two brothers in a two bedroom
apartment in the rough
neighborhood of Belmont, Abel
Collado never knew what the
future held for him.
Collado, 25, recalled that he
was surrounded by violence,
drugs and guns as a child.
While a career as a paramedic
and fi refi ghter was the furthest
thing from his mind, he was determined
to get out and make a
better life for himself.
“I appreciate her so much for
what she did for us his brothers
Emilio and Alexander,” he
said referring to his mom, Josefi
na. “I knew I wanted better.
I love where I grew up. It made
me who I am. I had no idea that I
would be where I am today.”
In high school he and a close
friend named Jose Felix, wanted
to go to college, but their grades
were mediocre. So they opted to
attend SUNY Purchase, which
was like a breath of fresh air
compared to the Bronx.
“We loved it. We loved the
campus,” he said. “Us going
to college was a way out of
the Bronx.”
Felix mentioned that his
cousin was a paramedic and
the duo became intrigued. He
graduated as an EMT and paramedic,
along with an associate’s
degree in applied science.
He spent seven years working
as an EMS in the city and
in April 2019, Collado became
a fi refi ghter in midtown. As a
fi reman, he works two 24 hours
shifts a week, yet still felt the
need to do more.
So in April, in the peak of
COVID-19, he joined Ready
Responders, a program that
is designed to bring on-site
health services, urgent care,
non-emergency services and
COVID-19 testing to residents
of New York City.
With seven years under
his belt as a paramedic, Collado
was tabbed a supervisor
of the organization. In
that role, he gets the opportunity
to constantly work and
assist patients.
“I wanted to help Ready
because of their mission and
goal,” he said. “I’m so happy
that Ready came into NYC and
I think it’s been inspirational
for the patients in their time
of need.”
BRONX TIMES R 2 EPORTER, SEPT. 11-17, 2020 BTR
According to Collado, he’s
proud to work for Ready and
has seen the need for its service
in NYC. In his years as a fi rst
responder, there isn’t a moment
that stands out, but one of
the most rewarding parts of his
work experience is receiving
gratitude from a patient’s family.
When he cares for someone’s
loved one, and they say
“thank you,” there’s no better
feeling to know that they get to
live to see another Christmas
or family dinner together.
“Every day I wake up and
I have to clock into work for
Ready,” he said. “I don’t feel
like this is my job. This is my
life. This is what I do.”
Today he lives in Pelham
Gardens and stressed to the
Bronx Times that throughout
his journey, he learned that no
matter where someone is from,
anyone can do anything.
“I honestly didn’t know
where I would be in my life
right now,” he said. “God has
blessed me.” Bronx resident Abel Collado Photos courtesy of Abel Collado