"Goob" Fitzwater honored with "Courageous Student Award"
By Bob Weaver 2003
It was a good day in Hur yesterday.
Two years ago "Goob" Fitzwater's life changed quickly, when a farm tractor rolled
over and crushed him. His life was touch and go for several
days as Rick and Melinda Fitzwater, their family and friends clung to his bedside.
This May, Ryan "Goob" Fitzwater was honored with the West Virginia Secondary
School Activities Commission "Courageous Student Award," having done the hard
work to return his life to normal.
Now active in football, basketball and golf, Goob has "exhibited courage by
overcoming adversity," the award said.
Last year Goob said "I remember jumping from the tractor," while it was rolling
backwards. He was putting up hay with his dad and brother in a remote area off Pine
Creek Road near the Village of Hur. "I remember thinking I might die," he recalled. He
didn't remember his dad and brother pushing the tractor away from his crushed
body. "Things went black."
Brother Michael, then a Calhoun High football player, used his running skills in a way
few are called to do.
He ran top speed around the woodlands ridge to call an ambulance. EMS member
Mike Little
said "We knew it was a critical call. It had that sound" and timelines were
critical.
Rick Fitzwater placed his son in the bucket of a tractor, bringing him to the main
road while
Goob was losing most of his blood supply from two traumatic wounds. He also had
internal
injuries.
"It seemed like everything fell into place to save him," said Rick. The ambulance
was there
within minutes, trauma care was given and the connection to the HealthNet chopper
was right
on schedule. He arrived in short order at the trauma unit at Charleston Area Medical
Center.
Goob said he was grateful to his family and neighbors. "I didn't know how bad it was
until I got home, and my friends told me," he said.
His recovery was not always easy, but Goob has what it takes to make it," said
Rick.
Rick has spoken about Goob's triumphant first walk and his brother's heroics, and
his thanks
to the Lord for the blessing of Goob's recovery. He expressed grateful thoughts
toward his
family, neighbors and friends.
In this tiny chunk of the world we call Hur, neighbors fell to their knees in the middle
of the road
on that July 2nd and prayed for Goob to survive this ordeal.
Calhoun people responded, lifting
prayers and helping in many ways, and people across America, in great numbers,
joined in spiritual
support.
So, you must understand why this day will always be special day for the
Fitzwaters.
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