ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando community is pausing to remember the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting and to thank the first responders who worked hard to save many lives June 12, 2016.
What You Need To Know
- ORMC's Dr. Joseph Ibrahim treated Pulse victims the night of the shooting
- Ibrahim said he sought counseling after to help deal with the tragedy
- RELATED: Due to Coronavirus Pandemic, Pulse Remembrance Will be Online
Four years after the attack, it's become a little easier for Orlando Regional Medical Center Trauma Medical Director Dr. Joseph Ibrahim to stay in Central Florida on June 12.
“Honestly for the first couple of years, I made sure I was out of town because it was very difficult. Since that time, I’ve been a little better about being here, because I feel like the community needs us to be here, they want us to be here," Ibrahim said.
The trauma doctor and his team jumped in to a tremendous task — working to save lives as victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting came pouring into ORMC.
“I wish I could say I remember thinking this or that, but you really truly go into treatment mode," Ibrahim said.
The team worked for hours trying to save as many lives as they can.
“I say without any hesitation, that there was nothing we could have done. That was somewhat comforting in that our institution, our team, anybody that had a chance at survival, they survived," Ibrahim said.
He credits counseling for helping him process the experience and to become a better physician.
“Would I have sought counseling quicker? Absolutely. That’s the biggest message I have for people. It doesn’t have to be something of this magnitude, that’s another thing I’ve learned from it, is counseling is so paramount really to all of us," Ibrahim said.
With significant loss, also came stories of survival and continued thanks for the lives saved.
“Survivors, absolutely, several of us get emails or little messages from them, sometimes you just get an anonymous card around the Pulse date, ‘hey, thanks for what you did on that night,’" he said.
Dr. Ibrahim said the Pulse tragedy showed what beauty and grace truly look like as each a new year passes.
“Recognize what a blessing all of life is, probably the biggest focus for me as you move forward on that date every year," Dr. Ibrahim said.
He shared with us that the hospital has always had a great relationship with law enforcement but communication has improved with the two working together the night of the shooting at Pulse nightclub.