Community

by Staci Worden


I wrote this three years ago after a life changing experience that I had. I am thankful for my community of Disciples Church - love you guys...

An event that caused me to deeply think about the importance of community and surrounding myself with people who know me wholly. 

OK, here is the story... I took Garrett to the Bowlerama in Killeen for a birthday party. I was having nostalgic feelings for being in the area of my stomping grounds... GO ROOS...as I dropped him off. To kill some time, I took off to Nolanville to see my grandmother and arrange her medication boxes for the next two weeks. I was travelling on Business 190 through the club strip of Harker Heights, when I saw a person face down on the ground surrounded by 25-30 bikers and their motorcycles at the "All Bottoms Up" club. No police, no ambulance....I didn't think much of it until I saw a dark liquid all over the ground by the person. I quickly pulled over, grabbed my daughter, and approached the crowd to let them know that I was a nurse and wanted to see if they needed help! 

I was either going to be welcomed warmly or made into a biker slave (just joking). They yelled she's a nurse and welcomed me warmly. Good thing for me :) I rushed to the individual on the ground, that no one was helping. A very nice lady dressed in all leather, bandana, braids, and heavy makeup grabbed Reese for me while I helped the wounded person. I feel bad for calling her just a person, but I didn't know who she was and why no one was helping her. I am thankful to the leathered woman for helping me with Reese and she was nicest person to keep her for me. The whole gang was. They babysat her while I assessed the injuries of the unknown person. 

She was face down on the ground with blood oozing from her mouth and nose. She was breathing....The dark liquid I saw from the road was oil from her motorcycle, that had been moved. Her arms were tucked underneath her. I coud not assess her radial pulse because her arms were tucked, so I slipped my hand down her neck to check her carotid pulse and she had a good pulse. I spoke to her and she tried to nod her head, but I quickly told her not to move. 

She had a small helmet on, so I leaned down close to her face and saw that she had several fractures. Her eyes were swollen shut. I smelled alcohol on her breath. She had a lot of bruising and swelling starting to take over much of her face. She was "snoring", and I could not figure out if she had completely lost consciencious at that point (she never responded again after my first assessment) or if she had an airway obstruction, but she was breathing, how well - I don't know. 

I found out afterwards that the gang was leaving the club, and as she was pulling out of the parking lot she hit some gravel and lost control of her motorcycle, causing the accident. 

I could give you a "why motorcyles are dangerous lesson, but I will refrain. Anyways, the police and ambulance showed up 5 minutes after I got there, so I stepped aside to let them tend to the "person". 

I was shocked that when the police officer asked this person's name, not one of the people in the gang knew her name. They kept screaming at each other... "I think her name is Teresa"...." What is her last name?"....."No, that's not it, I think she got married".... I heard these same things over and over as I prayed for "Teresa". How could you be in a group of 25-30 people and not one of them know YOU? 

I would hope that if I was the person on the ground, my community (my family, my friends) would know my name, would offer me a hand, would know my married name, would be willing to talk me through the pain I was feeling, hold my head, my hand, or just touch me to let me know that they were there. Audibly pray for me.... 

I am so glad that I have a community of family and a community of church. People who would be there for me and know my name. But I learned today, that there are people who do not.... 

Pray for "Teresa" for her healing, for her to find community, and most important to experience the community of our Savior, Jesus Christ... I may never see her again, but "Teresa" will be in my heart forever....