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TOMS RIVER, N.J. -- An emergency room technician was so determined to make her shift the day after Sandy hit that she swam part of the way there through the floodwaters.
"'Can't' isn't in my vocabulary, so I knew I was going to make it," said Marsha Hedgepeth of Toms River, N.J.
Hedgepeth had to make her 3 p.m. shift at Community Medical Center the day after Sandy.
But when she looked outside, her neighborhood was dark and flooded. The Barnegat Bay had poured 10-foot waves on to her street overnight, and the streetlights were out.
Read the original story on NBCNewYork.com
The longtime surfer waited until sunrise and set off with a plan.
"I dove into water, and I couldn't see the steps I was walking down because they were covered in water," she said. "So I said the easiest way to get there is just swim until I reach the ground."
Dressed in jeans and sneakers, Hedgepeth bundled up in a scarf, hat and mittens, and swam about 200 yards (the equivalent of swimming about 4 lengths of an Olympic-sized pool), navigating through the debris and carrying her scrubs in a grocery bag.
When she finally made it to the highway, she hitched a ride with some utility workers and arrived to work six hours before her shift.
Hospital administrators say it's a testament to Hedgepeth's hard work and resilience.
"To suffer such a tragedy and have to endure the extreme weather we had experienced on the Jersey Shore that day -- we can't say enough of how proud we are of her and that she is safe," said Teri Kubiel, administrative director at Community Medical Center.
Hedgepeth said she knew she was needed, although next time she would rethink her travel plans.
"It wasn't the safest thing I've ever done in my life," she said. "In hindsight, would I do it again? No. Would I always make it to the hospital to do my shift? Absolutely."
Leave a Comment:
Very cool Marsha Hedgepeth! The world needs more people like you!
You bet we do! You go, Marsha! You rule!
So true, we need more like Marsha Hedgepeth and less like RobertaJohnson who should be banned from here.
A brave moron... but brave. Glad she didn't become a victim herself.
Lady..think about buying a small boat/raft/canoe..be a lot easier.
Hloy S**T! That's awesome. I'm glad she didn't get hurt herself. Some people are crazy...at least in a good way.
By the way, sometimes brave and foolish come hand in hand. And sometimes it is only hindsight where we get to pick the word we want. This would be that case.....
Mark-423819,
I don't think the word "moron" applies here.
Foolish? Maybe...if she was thinking only of her own safety. Unfortunately we have a lot of that in this country, and a lot of true "morons" would never risk their own lives for others.
Fortunately we also have a lot of people who rise to the challenge and do unconventional things to succeed in unconventional circumstances. As you mention, it requires bravery...which itself sometimes requires extreme measures.
Ms. Hedgepeth was an ER Tech. She knew she was needed, and there was only one way to get to work. She did what she had to do to get there. It was a selfless act that should be praised.
I agree with you that she was very brave. I don't agree she was a moron in any sense of the word.
My opinion, for what it's worth...
This story should be read to every kid in America.
Jersey strong baaaaby!
I love a good story like this one. My sister is a nurse and knows there are "many" people depending on her.
She actually risked her life to save others. Wow. The water had to be under 50 degrees too. They don't mention that part. Wish there were millions of people like her around. Make that, billions.
As for RobertaJohnson, I never read any of her posts. They're deleted by the time I get to all of them however, if they're deleted, I have an idea of what they said but would love to read it out of curiosity....
All heros are foolish by the actual bool definition, BUT their courage in spite obstacles is what makes them HEROS!!
First in last out, Good work, were proud of you. Putting yourself in danger to take care of others is a sign of Heroism, the world would be blessed to have more like her in it.
She says she wouldn't do it again but you know, I don't believe her. There is a kind of person, usually in the helping professions, that hears the call of duty and rises to the occasion. Let us raise a glass to them this TG.
Wasn't the safest thing she'd done in her life? That's an understatement. It was pretty stupid of her to attempt something like that. There could have been live wires, floating debris and who knows what kind of chemicals she exposed herself to. Why was she even home anyway? Shouldn't she have evacuated?
Put a cork in it Maria. Just congratulate the woman for her bravery.
I agree with Maria: Despite the commendable attitude, it was VERY foolish.
I assume she is a mother and wife. She also has an obligation to stay alive for her family, and what she did was incredibly dangerous. This was not a case where the hospital could not function without her.
People die every year simply from their own basements being flooded. When they wade into them for whatever reason, they are electrocuted. Being out and about in water with all those downed power lines was not very bright.
@Maria and @Keving Shut your pie hole. Your are just jealous because you aren't being recognized as a hero. Jealousy destroys from within. Think about that...
Just goes to show that surfers aren't slackers after all--and thank goodness she wasn't a cowardly weenie like Kevin C, and Maria.
Brave? Yes. Safe? No. I'm glad she made it through without any problems like electrocution or hypothermia, but a better idea would have been to wear a wetsuit if she had one, and find some way to float across.
My first thought when I saw the title was of the bacteria and filth that might be in the water. I hope she took a long shower with strong soap before working with any patients, and I hope anywhere she dripped in the hospital was cleaned up with bleach.
Maria, stuff a sock in it. One, she is a medical worker. They are often exempted from evacuatiing. Two, Toms River was severly flooded, but wasn't one of the areas expected to really flood, as it is inland, behind the barrier islands, so more people stayed than left. The barrier islands were expected to be devastated, and they were. The extent of inland flooding surpised most emergency planners.
Yeah right?! Don't get your panties in a bunch man!
FYI... for the people who "think" they lost power in the beginning due to damage, you're incorrect. When the winds get to a certain speed, they strategically cut certain power grids.
She was safe from electrocution. Her power was cut off just as Sandy was approaching.
Maria, she "WAS" needed. No pun intended but I came to realize that people who post as you did cannot swim and are probably a stay at home mom.
It's people like this woman who are true hero's rather than people who only think about themselves and not others. You know, the Me, Me, Me, syndrome.
Maria,, It may have been not the right thing to do, but in her heart she had a job to do that had the lives of others that counted on her, so she did it without hesitation. And I don't know if anybody else believes this or not, but I for one know she had her GOD with her that day. Praise her, not belittle her.
In reference to Maria's comment. She was not evacuated because she on the mainland where flood waters were not expected as high as the barrier islands. Many of my friends had 5ft of water in houses in less than 15 minutes. This nurse and others such as police and firemen found themselves in the same position.
While I do applaud her bravery, I do have to agree Maria has a valid point. It was very dangerous, and she could easily have become a victim. In a situation like that, it would have taken other emergency responders away from their jobs, risking further lives to save hers. While I'm happy it turned out well, it could have made a bad situation worse.
I like this woman a lot!
This is when having a wetsuit comes in handy :) I would have done the same thing.
Can't - contraction of can not, meaning unable to. Elephantiasis scroti is not in my vocabulary.
Brave...
Stupid.
But brave.
Marsha did an incredibly brave thing. Was it safe? No. Is it safe for a firefighter to go into a burning building? No. Sure they have the training and protective equipment to do that but it is still not safe. Her dedication to her job and the people she helps care for is to be commended. Disasters always bring out the best in people like her. Is placing oneself in harm's way for others not a noble trait? It most certainly is, and the naysayers here who call her foolish would be the first the criticize her if she didn't do what she did, especially if they needed her assistance. In this society of me, I ,me, mine, this woman is a sterling example of humanitarian goodness
I've been an ER nurse for years and completely understand what drove her to do this. Thank God she made it safely.
What a dedicated empoyee! Because of her, there's no more excuses to skip work.
It's what hero's always say... "I really did that?".... way to go lady.....
Skookum Jim, I agree 100%. What makes people brave and heroic? Doing things other people may deem unsafe but will ultimately help huge numbers of others. We need more brave people and we certainly don't need to be second guessing them. All I know is if I was in that hospital, it is her I would want watching out for me!
Some are critical of this woman for doing something dangerous; they even label it "stupid." I've always said that there's a fine line between bravery and stupidity - the very definition of bravery is to do something that goes against your better interests. I'm glad she made it okay, I imagine part of her motivation was the thought that many co-workers might not make it to the E.R. that day, which was bound to be full of injured people. I salute you, Marsha!
YOU GO GIRL!!!! I want everyone to stay safe but I am absolutely LOVING her determination! This is the stuff heroes (and her case - heroines) are made of! The highlight of stories for me this week, for sure! :D
You can't be electrocuted when the power is out everywhere.
ummm...wrong. The canisters on the poles store a LOT of juice.
The canisters on the poles are transformers, not capacitors - they don't store electricity. But, the power may not have been out "everywhere" so there was still a risk of electrocution.
I congratulate u girl i wish the world was more like u it would be a better place tks girl god bless u & family & happy thanks giving.
The Kidd
Yes, braving the floodwaters was not safe, and for most people risking life and limb to get to work would not be prudent. But this woman does not work at a carry-out; she works as a technician in an emergency room. Given the devastation wrought by the storm, I would venture to say the local ERs were stuffed to the brim with the sick and injured- many of them first responders battling the fires & wreckage. Without proper care, the outcomes for the injured rapidly decline. So in this particular case, she risked her own safety to help assure the safety of others. This is no different from the thousands of others who stepped up to rescue the stranded, help the wounded, and stabilize critical infrastructure. We tend to praise those in uniform without acknowledging the small acts of everyday heroism from ordinary citizens. All of them should be properly recognized for their selfless acts.
Very well said! I couldn't agree more.
While I credit her drive, I question her judgement. There are days when I take precautions and "move" closer to work so that I can fulfil my responsibilities.
As someone who has worked in health care, most ERs would prepare for this type of event. Because of the adequate warning, they would have the necessary staff and a way for those who are there to stay. I work in Philly, and the work modification were made to our hospitals and ER on Sunday evening. While the area was largely spared from the storm, noone would want a co-worker to come in when it isn't safe and things are functioning without them.
She could have easily become one of the people who needed to be rescued.
I do put her into a different category than the first responders who have the jobs to rescue people. They need to be there in harms way.
They don't say what happened work-wise after she arrived...after all, for her, that was the point of going.
i.e., was it really worth it?
She swam through sewage and has a good chance of contracting a disease like Hepatitis or worse because of it. Not smart or safe if you make yourelf sick forever because of wanting to make work that day.
desperate times call for desperate measures-----it's equivalent to a fireman running into a burning building. story has a happy ending -just give her credit for her actions -brave woman. hats off to you!
No this isn't the same as the fireman. In the case of the fireman, there wasn't anyone else to do the job. When a disaster is projected, ERs modify their work structure. The ER would have functioned with or without her. While having her come is likely to have eased the burden some, it wasn't necessary.
I think you watch too much TV , it is very rare for a Fireman to run through burning buildings .If the buiding is engulfed in flames they get out. But in addition to that they have the training , the command structure and the equipment appropriate to the risk. As many posters have already pointed out she is a "hero that had to swim to get to work " but if she was drowned or electrocuted she would have just been called foolish because if her workplace was professinally run they would have measures in place to manage without her.
actually is more like the fireman waiting in the building while it is engulfed in flames and then running out. Why on earth did she stay? and don't tell me it wasn't expected thats tidal water then they get a storm surge even inland.
I think her last statement, "Would I do it again? No.Would I always make it to the hospital to do my shift? Absolutely." sums it up. In retrospect, she realizes that it wasn't a safe plan, but her commitment to her job makes her a hero. I'll certainly think of her when my own commitment wavers.
Great comment! I agree.
a true american hero!!
I read this article, and then I read the one about the 4 guys who wanted to be al-queda terrorists. It never ceases to amaze me, that the wide chasm between good and evil, can be illustrated so succinctly on the same day. Thank you Ms. Hedgepeth for giving us an example of goodness to share with others. Although it was quite dangerous, I appreciate your determination to do the right thing in a time of strife. So many turn to cowardice, destruction and subterfuge, while others are heroic, constructive and forthright. I appreciate your dedication to helping others.
To all those people who bray about Americans having no work ethic: put a cork in it! Ms. Hedgepeth, you rock!
Brave and stupid at the same time. She is not a hero yet. She is still alive. Heros are dead.
Heros don't have to die. There are many living heros.
What an idiot. I'm not impressed.
The kind of people we need in our congress!!
you think actually having someone in congress that seriously wants to work......I have only ever heard of one and she was shot at a grocery store meet and greet.
We can still hope that people learn, but I hear you.
I am glad she was not a union member or she would have demanded more money for showing up when needed.
Does it mention she was not a union member, or are you just spouting dumb comments?
Or filed a grievance and sued ! gotta love those unions !
If she was not a union member she was probably afraid of losing her job for not showing up !