First Responders are Human Beings, too.

“My introduction to First Responder world was April 19, 1995.”

For most of you, you probably know exactly where you were when you see that date, especially
if you are from Oklahoma. For Dr. Kathy Thomas, that day changed her entire career.

Dr. Thomas is one of the founding members of Warrior’s Rest Foundation, where she is
currently the Clinical Director. Before the events of April 1995, she was a private practicing
psychologist in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Once she heard the news on April 19th, Dr. Thomas
wanted to know any way that she could help.

When Dr. Thomas reached Oklahoma City to volunteer, she was assigned to the church where
families were waiting to hear news about their loved ones. Her role was to support First
Responders on death notification teams, which is something she had never seen before that
day. Her perspective changed:

“I realized I looked at First Responders like little bitty kids look at their parents.
Little kids don’t look at their parents like human beings – they look at their parents
like they are going to take care of things and they don’t have to worry about it.
And I realized I had looked at First Responders the same way.”

Dr. Kathy Thomas

Nearly all of us have had that same image of First Responders.

First Responders are exposed to trauma so regularly that their mental health takes a toll.
Warrior’s Rest steps in with resources to help First Responders build resilience and live healthy
lives, personally and professionally.

Thanks to Warrior’s Rest’s in-house clinicians, First Responders have access to clinicians who
are well-versed in the effects of their unique traumas and are trained in practices to help them
heal.

If you are a First Responder or know one who has had these extraordinary experiences, please
don’t wait to seek support.

If you want to help First Responders heal, we invite you to join us in our work by making a
donation today.