It
started out as a typical night of calls for service at Baylor
University Medical Center at Dallas until our dispatcher
summoned all officers to the emergency department parking
lot. In the parking lot were a Dallas police and Dallas Area
Rapid Transit (DART) police vehicle, one riddled with bullet
holes, used to transport wounded officers from the protests in
downtown Dallas to the hospital.
Within minutes, our hospital was saturated with police who
were clearly overcome with emotion. I felt numb when I heard
more police officers had been ambushed and shot and were en
route to the hospital. I had no idea that five of the wounded
officers would make the ultimate sacrifice that night.
When I reflect on that night, I recall Baylor Scott & White
officers standing outside in disbelief as we secured the emergency
department parking lot. I watched as frantic family members
of the fallen officers were accompanied hand in hand by Dallas
police department and DART officers. I am reminded how
Baylor Scott & White police, medical staff and the chaplains
provided emotional support to the families and police agencies.
I regrettably remember the grief we all felt as everyone stood in
the parking lot and saluted two of the fallen police officers. At
that moment we all realized that could have been any one of us
not going home to our loved ones at the end of our tour of duty.
What makes it most difficult for me is I knew one of the fallen
Dallas police officers brought to Baylor’s emergency department
that night.
That night is a reminder that we should not take anything for
granted, as tomorrow is not promised to us. You should hug
your family much tighter and perhaps a little longer.
I am extremely proud to be a part of the Baylor Scott & White family.
My prayers are with the families of those brave police officers
who were injured and made the ultimate sacrifice the night of
July 7, 2016.
– Tanya Bradley
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