22
COM Outlook . Fall 2013
see a school bus arrive with children
that needed to be evaluated.” Dr.
Moy-Brown said. “It was equally as
moving to see how many nurses, doc-
tors, and other medical professionals
arrived to volunteer their services.”
As with any tragedy, there are
images and incidents that will remain
forever etched in Dr. Moy-Brown’s
memory. “Watching a body bag being
removed from the 7-Eleven conve-
nience store across the street from the
hospital was a powerful reminder
of how fortunate we were to sur-
vive—and that so many had lost so
much,” she admitted before sharing
several other gripping tales. “I took
care of a woman who arrived with
blood all over her and was clutching
a plastic bag filled with her life sav-
ings—all in dollar bills. She had a look
of desperation on her face that I will
never forget. Being able to tell her she
was going to be okay physically, but
knowing the emotional toll she would
have to endure would be far greater,
was a harrowing experience.”
Although scenes of destruction,
as well as horrifying tales of physical
and emotional suffering, had engulfed
her psyche, Dr. Moy-Brown was able
to recount an uplifting event that
brought joy at a time when misery
was the predominant theme. “One
story that shed a little ray of light in
such a dark situation was of the baby
that was born in the hospital just prior
to the tornado,” she recalled. “The
dad arrived at the hospital frantically
searching for his wife, but we were
able to direct him to his wife and
infant, who were both safe and sound
inside the movie theater. The reunion
was a beautiful sight because it pro-
vided a vision of new life in the midst
of all the devastation and loss of life.”
Now that a number of months have
passed since the Moore tornado devas-
tated the community and created life-al-
tering upheaval for many of its citizens,
Dr. Moy-Brown has had time to reflect
on how the events that unfolded that
fateful day have impacted her life. “I
was incredibly humbled to be a part of
the team that was able to direct others
who did not have training in emergen-
cy medicine and disaster medicine,” she
explained. “Doctors of many specialties
arrived to help, but none was trained
in disaster medicine and mass-casualty
triage. As an ER resident a month away
from graduation, my training was put
to the test—and I passed. I was remind-
ed of why I chose to become an ER
physician because my training helped
me to remain calm and to know what to
do in that chaotic situation.”
She also had an important mes-
sage to impart to current NSU-COM
students as they progress through
their medical school experience. “I re-
ally want to provide encouragement
to all the NSU medical students as
they study and sacrifice so much to
pursue their goal of becoming a phy-
sician,” she stated. “It is a worthy and
noble calling, so press on and don’t
give up. You may not be involved in
an EF-5 tornado, but I truly believe
each and every one of you will make
a difference in someone’s life.”
TERROR ON THE MOVE: IMAGES OF MOORE TORNADO AWE AND APPALL
“I was incredibly humbled to be a part of the team that was able to direct others who did not
have training in emergency medicine and disaster medicine. Doctors of many specialties arrived
to help, but none was trained in disaster medicine and mass-casualty triage. As an ER resident a
month away from graduation, my training was put to the test—and I passed.”
