On August 3, University Medical Center of El Paso reflected on seven years of healing after the tragic shooting that occurred in the city. The hospital held a moment of silence in remembrance of those affected by the shooting and shared the stories of UMC employees whose lives were shaped by that day.

Stories of Heroism

Michael Kennedy, a Certified RN III in the ICU, remembers how quickly everything unfolded. Within 45 minutes, the emergency department was caring for 14 trauma patients. Kennedy said, “It was a beautiful thing to see everyone do exactly what they were trained to do for so long, and they just got to work.”

April Senclair, also a Certified RN III in the ICU, was attending a coworker’s baby shower when emergency alerts appeared on her phone. She recalled thinking to herself, “Everyone in this room means something to someone.”

Silvia Ogaz, Supervisor of Environmental Services, walked through the hospital when she received the call. She moved from floor to floor, calling members of her team to report to the Emergency Department. Ogaz said she saw the strength in the people around her and within herself.

Other UMC employees, including Juan Torres, Jaime Vasquez, Nancy McGrail, and Alejandra Carzoli, also shared their stories of heroism and how the experience shaped their lives and careers.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.