[tbc] Tulsa Tough Kudos

[September Brown]

Thanks from me to everyone who helped out at the Tulsa Tough this weekend.
During the severe storms that affected our area, the cream rose to the top.
I'd like to pass along a few stories I heard, to give some recognition to
some folks that you'd probably never hear about, because they just saw what
needed to be done, and did it.

On Saturday, one of our medical busses had mechanical problems, so we
weren't able to use it on Sunday.  We managed to get a tent rounded up, but
forgot to ask for a table and chair for the nurse who would be using it.
Chuck Davis offered up his work table for her to use, and his chair.  When
the storms came, he helped hold the tent down as long as they could, before
it was finally demolished by the storm.  Chuck tried to help save the
supplies, and  helped her round up what hadn't blown away, and put them on
the van.  Thank you, Chuck!

Paul Wood and Glen Mulready, who made sure everyone got their supplies
delivered.  They came up with the tent mentioned above, with barely any
notice that it was needed.  I know that wasn't easy to find.  Thanks Paul
and Glen!

Late Saturday afternoon, I was told that we needed some more bandages and
electrolyte tablets, so I called Pat Garrett of Zee Medical Supplies.  Pat
came out on Sunday morning at 8:00 am to deliver what we needed, making sure
I got them in time to get to the rest stops.  Not only was it her day off,
but it was also her birthday.  Besides going above and beyond, she gave us a
discount on the supplies, and threw in a couple of freebies.  Thanks, Zee
Medical!

Judy Johnson, an LPN instructor at Platt College, helped get student
volunteers for our rest stops.  Saturday, Judy, her daughter, and grandsons
moved to a second rest stop after theirs closed, to provide coverage when a
volunteer didn't show up.  On Sunday when the storms came through in waves,
Judy's medical tent was demolished.  A short time later, the 100 mile ride
was cancelled, and riders were asked to turn off on the 100 K route instead.
Judy knew that some riders had already gone through, so she put the first
aid supplies in her car with her daughter and grandsons, and followed the
100 mile route looking for riders.  When she found some flooded roads, she
turned back and pointed the riders down another road to get around the
flooding.  After finding more flooded roads, she turned back again, and told
them another passable route.  When she was done guiding them in, she went
back and followed the ENTIRE route, just to make sure there wasn't anyone
else who needed help.  Judy drove over 200 miles to make sure every rider
was safe.  Her truck was pelted with egg-sized hail, and suffered extensive
body damage.  Afterwards, she offered to help again next year.  Turns out
that Sunday was her birthday, and she gave it away to help the riders.  Judy
said "You know, you see these riders over and over, and you kind of get
attached to them.  You want to make sure they're okay, and I just felt like
I needed to be there for them."  Thank you, Judy!

Carol Hamilton drove in all the way from Stillwater for two days in a row to
volunteer.  When a rider had leg cramps, she gave him a massage, then
started offering back rubs to riders.  One rider told her "This is the best
rest stop ever!"  By the way, Carol is the nurse who Chuck Davis helped on
Sunday, and despite being pelted with egg-sized hail, she also offered to
help again next year.  Thank you, Carol!

Rick Leach, Henry Lucero, and Laura Lucero, our mobile medics on motorcycles
and in cars, who traveled the routes, ready to help injured riders.  They
treated five riders, and helped make sure that everyone arrived safely.
During Sunday's storms, Rick arrived at the rest stop in Kellyville and
noticed that the medical volunteers hadn't arrived.  Rick took charge of the
situation, and set up the medical tent, got out the supplies, and ran the
medical station.  When Henry arrived, he helped.  Everyone at the rest stop
ended up taking refuge in the storms, then being stuck in the area due to
flooding.  After the storm, they helped get sag drivers to come rescue the
riders.  Afterwards, Laura drove the course, making sure everyone got back
okay.  Thank you, Rick, Henry, and Laura!

Our sag drivers, who weren't expected to provide any first aid, but they had
first aid kits with them, "just in case".  One injured rider did receive
assistance from a sag driver.  Thanks, Christine!

To all the volunteers who came out and braved the weather, because you knew
the riders would be counting on you.  Even though it was tempting to stay
home where it was warm and dry, you couldn't let them be out there on their
own, so you came out anyway.

Thank you all for making Tulsa Tough,

      __o
    _-\<,_    September Brown
   (_)/ (_)    Tulsa Tough Medical Coordinator