Trauma Funding in Jeopardy

It's the service you might never think of...until your life depends on it.
We're talking about trauma care and there's a new push today for permanent funding that keeps care at its best.
We've told you for more than a year now about the trouble Memorial has had getting funds for its trauma center.
Here are the fast facts:
Memorial is one of four level one trauma centers in Georgia.
It services patients from all over the region that includes some from South Carolina.
Lawmakers set aside 59-million dollars for trauma care during last year's legislative session but they did not give trauma centers a *permanent* source for funding.

Without help from the state it places a large financial burden on Memorial.
Today community leaders came together to send a message to the state that somehow the money needs to be found. If not, Memorial is saying it may have to downgrade the level of the trauma center.
News Three's Alice Massimi was at the meeting and has more on how this could affect you...

It's a place that's credited with saving many lives but if the state doesn't figure something out soon Memorial may be forced to take drastic steps.
Steps that could affect your life.

Shameir Frasier credits his life to the Lord and the Trauma Center at Memorial.
One of the many injured in the February explosion at Imperial Sugar, he was burned on twenty-five percent of his body.
“I feel like God has been blessing me because my face was burnt, my arms, my back, my face was really bad,” says Frasier.
Airlifted from the explosion and treated at Memorial, Frasier credits the trauma center with his quick recovery.
“You would never think I’d been burned that bad just by looking at me,” she says.
Frasier is not the only one grateful for the level one trauma center.
“Charlee was in a terrible accident. They did not have the facility or the diagnostics to tell us what was going on and memorial made it possible not only to be diagnosed but to heal and become well again,” says Charlee’s Mom Pam Russell.
But care provided at the trauma center is costly, and without the state's help Memorial is having problems keeping it a level one facility.
They've asked the state for help, but lawmakers haven't come to the rescue.
“It’s trying to find consensus. I think everybody understands the importance of trauma,” says Senator Eric Johnson.
Johnson is leading the effort to find the money to ensure the four level one trauma centers in Georgia not only stay open but expand.
“It’s particularly important for outlying areas we are lucky to have a trauma center right here in savannah but it could close tomorrow there is no law requiring it to be here.”
Ready to add new fees to tag registration or shift money out of other budgets, Johnson says the money needs to be found.
It's a matter of life or death.

You can voice your opinion on the issue by contacting your state representative or the governor and lieutenant governor.
We've compiled contact information for all of them for you:

Governor Sonny Perdue
Phone: (404) 656-1776
Fax: (404) 656-5947

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle
Phone: (770) 458-7605
Fax: (770) 458-7628

Eric Johnson (District 1)
District 1 includes parts of Chatham County, Richmond Hill and Tybee Island
Phone: (912) 433-1577
Email: eric.johnson@senate.ga.gov

Regina Thomas (District 2)
District 2 includes parts of Savannah, Pooler, and Garden City
Phone: (912) 231-0600
Email: regina.thomas@senate.ga.gov

Jeff Chapman (District 3)
District 3 includes Brunswick
Phone: (912) 399-8683
Email: jeff.chapman@senate.ga.gov

Jack Hill (District 4)
District 4 includes Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, and Emanuel Counties
Phone: (912) 557-3811
Email: jack.hill@senate.ga.gov