Tag: Oklahoma City bombing

How the Oklahoma City bombing changed 4 women’s lives

The 24th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing was marked on April 19, 2019. 168 people died, and hundreds were injured, changing the state and the nation forever. The memorial and museum tell stories of hope, including a bombing survivor who became a doctor, and three women who studied trauma and helped survivors worldwide.

updated April 15, 2024

April 19, 2019 marked the 24th anniversary of the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma City is the capital of my home state and was my home for 7 years while I attended medical school and completed my residency in Family Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

From the bombing, 168 people died, hundreds were injured, and our state and our nation were changed forever. Never had there been such an act of horror and carnage on U.S. soil.

I’ve written here about the bombing and showed you pictures from the site which is now a memorial and museum. I’m doing that again but this time with news about 4 women who have turned the event into something positive.

OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM

A woman survived to become a doctor

Twenty-three-year-old Madison Naylor was among the infants being cared for at the YMCA daycare located next door to the federal building at the time the bomb exploded. The building was heavily damaged but she and the other children survived.

“I remember when I was very young, I had a feeling that I had been really close to death, …I hope I can be something good that came from something so horrific.”

Madison Naylor, bombing survivor
some of the memorials hung on the fence that surrounded the bombing site have been left intact.

Madison grew up learning about the bombing and medicine. Her father and aunt are both physicians and now she is a first-year medical student at my alma mater, the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. (She graduated, and is now a resident physician in pediatrics.)

“I know the bombing is still a part of people’s lives here. It’s humbling to be associated with such a tragic event. I hope that I can be a positive face going forward.”

Madison Naylor, medical student
The SURVIVOR TREE remained standing when everything around it was destroyed by the bomb. It survives to this day.

“I just want to be the kind of person who leaves the world a better place than I found it.”

Madison Naylor, MS1
TILES PAINTED BY CHILDREN FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND DONATED TO THE MUSEUM ARE DISPLAYED AT THE ENTRANCE

Women who treated and studied the survivors

The bombing changed not only Oklahoma City, but also our state, and our entire country. It was the worst terrorist event on U.S. soil until 9/11. All of us were touched in some way, but especially three women who worked in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

“None of us was thinking about studying disasters…But we kept studying …the Oklahoma City survivors over the years..Then started helping with disasters elsewhere.”

Betty Pfefferbaum, M.D., J.D. department chairman
This window in the museum overlooks the memorial.

Dr. Pfefferbaum, along with colleagues Phebe Tucker, M.D., and Sandra Allen, Ph.D. treated and studied trauma victims from the bombing and shared their findings with other doctors who use it to treat survivors around the world.

Lessons learned from the OKC disaster trauma

  • Disasters affect many different groups of people beyond those at the site-family, first responders, the community
  • Terrorism victims have higher than average rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression than people who never experienced it.
  • Some people develop a biological response to disaster causing a higher resting heart rate than those not affected.

Dr. Allen developed an intervention to help children of trauma process their thoughts and feelings. Sometimes children think they have to hide their feelings or act out when they are hurting. This program helps them process those feelings and learn how to cope.

At a church across the street from the memorial

The work has rippled out into the world in ways that none of them could have imagined…

OU Medicine magazine
Words written on the wall of the former Journal Record Building which sat across from the federal building. These words, painted by a rescue team who searched for survivors that day, remain as a silent witness of the horrible event.
photos in this post taken by Dr. Aletha in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Thanks to OU Magazine and KFOR for sharing these stories.

exploring the HEART of health

Dr. Aletha

lemons into lemonade

I am delighted that Janice Wald, author and blogger at Mostly Bloggging, called this her “favorite post ” when I submitted it at her Inspire Me Monday Linky Party. Please visit Janice’s blog where you can learn about writing, blogging, productivity, marketing, and more.


It isn’t often that I see news-related posts left here and even rarer that, when I do, they are so inspirational. The post really exemplifies the expression, “Turn lemons into lemonade.”

Janice Wald, Mostly Blogging

APRIL Timely Topics-sunshine, spring, special days

In the northern hemisphere, spring brings longer, warmer days but also health challenges. The season is ideal for outdoor activities like walking, cycling, and gardening. Christians may observe Easter in April. The month also raises awareness about sunburn, insect bites, and water safety. Additionally, April 19 marks a solemn day for Oklahoma, remembering the 1995 bombing.

In the northern half of the earth, it’s finally spring all month long. Warmer, longer days are pleasant but can bring new health challenges and opportunities.

I hope you can take advantage of the warmth to be outdoors doing fun and healthy activities-walking, biking, swimming, gardening, and playing with kids. I’ll share some posts to help you do those activities safely.

Photo from Pexels.com

Faith, hope, and love

Christians often observe Easter in April, depending on when it falls on the calendar.

April timely topics include

April 19-remembering Oklahoma City

On April 19, 1995, a domestic terrorist left a bomb in a truck in front of the federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; I had lived there for 7 years while in medical school and residency. 168 people died, including 19 children. Until 9/11/2001, it was the largest loss of life due to terrorism on U.S. soil.

The incident was shocking and traumatic to our entire country but especially here in our state. Oklahoma is usually a peaceful place; we deal with tornadoes and floods but not bombings. So every year we remember the victims, their families, and especially those who rescued the wounded, and the survivors who rebuilt their lives.

window at the Oklahoma City bombing museum
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

exploring the HEART of health

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Featured image

The featured image at the top of this post is a beautiful dogwood tree. They bloom in the spring here in Oklahoma.

Dr. Aletha
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