Why I Work With First Responders: From Last Responder to Therapist

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Structure & Scars, therapist Nikki Hensler Gordon shares the personal story behind her commitment to first responders. Before becoming a clinician, Nikki worked as a donor coordinator — a ‘last responder’ navigating the hardest nights of grieving families and coordinating the delicate process of organ and tissue donation.Through those years, she witnessed firsthand the weight first responders carry, the dark humor that makes survival possible, and the scars that linger long after the sirens fade. She also experienced isolation, backlash, and institutional betrayal that shaped her understanding of trauma and resilience.In this raw reflection, Nikki explains how her work in death care and victim services brought her full circle — from coordinating recoveries to supporting first responders in the aftermath of critical incidents. Her story is not about glamour or grit; it’s about scars, survival, and why standing alongside those who serve is her calling.Structure & Scars Unfiltered dialogue about the structures that shape us.✉️ Continue the conversation: [email protected]