Seth Eshleman Story

Disasters and accidents are never expected, but for firefighter Seth Eshleman, risk is simply part of his job. 

In February 2026, Eshleman and his team responded to an active fire on a historic building. While fighting the fire, his toes were accidentally crushed.  

According to Eshleman, the pain was unlike anything he had experienced before. His fellow firefighters and paramedics on the scene responded rapidly to transport him to a nearby emergency room for care. Doctors diagnosed him with three broken toes and told him he’d be back to normal by October. 

But they were quickly proven wrong. 

“Originally, it was just ‘a few broken toes,” Eshleman said. “After I was discharged from the ER, [I realized] the blood vessels and all the nerves were crushed, and I quickly developed necrosis and lack of blood flow to my toe(s).” 

With a heartbreaking diagnosis and facing the very real possibility of an amputation, Eshleman turned to Casa Colina for hope. 

“Thankfully, I [was] seen at Casa in a very timely manner,” he said, smiling. “The [attending] doctor identified that this was more serious than we had initially thought. They were able to get me into a hyperbaric chamber [the next day].” 

Hyperbaric chambers work by providing patients with 100%, pure oxygen that can be carried to damaged tissues and reduce the time it would usually take for the body to heal an injury. This allows extra oxygen to reach damaged tissues even when swelling and injury have reduced normal blood flow to the damaged area. This treatment can help decrease swelling, support healing, reduce tissue damage, and improve chances of saving muscle, skin, and ultimately limbs.  

“I’ve been working with Dr. Wong and Dr. Shih, my specialist for podiatry,” he said. “Everyone at wound care and in hyperbarics has been a huge help in my recovery.” 

Thanks to the combined efforts of his team of caregivers and his own determination, Eshleman experienced a speedy recovery. 

“When Seth arrived at Casa Colina facing the prospect of amputation, our priority wasn’t just healing the wound—it was getting a dedicated first responder back on his feet and back to serving his community,” said Dr. Shih. “His determination, coupled with timely, collaborative limb-salvage care, made all the difference in turning a potentially career-ending trauma into an incredible recovery.” 

Over the next month after his injury, Eshleman attended daily sessions in Casa Colina’s hyperbaric chamber. His toe–which had turned black from necrosis–saw improvement in color and sensation after every session. 

“Sitting in the chamber was completely new to me,” he said.  “It was the perfect treatment—it gave 100% oxygen and helped all of my cells reform and stop that progressing necrosis.” 

By late July, he was back to walking on his own.  

From potential amputation to a full recovery, Eshleman’s time to standing back on his own two feet took less than 6 months. 

“Being in the healthcare system can be daunting, and it does have some negative stigmas, but those were all wiped away here,” he said. “I was treated like a family member and they genuinely cared about how I was doing and attended to my needs during a time when I was in extreme pain.” 

Eshleman is now preparing to rejoin his colleagues again. 

“I am extremely grateful to all who have had a hand in my treatments behind closed doors. Casa just made everything so streamlined.” 

Thanks in large part to his time at Casa Colina and the specialized care he received, Eshleman is now getting back to the life—and the job—that he loves.