Houston Officer Who Helped In Hurricane Harvey Battles Cancer In Tulsa

A Houston police officer who helped rescue more than 1,000 people from rising floodwaters is in Tulsa.

That's because he's getting treatment for stage-four cancer.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America is certainly a much quieter and sunnier place than where Bert Ramon has been the last few days.

"I feel  good. I feel real good," Ramon said.

Ramon has his own way of getting his stage-four colon cancer off his mind. 

"I love the outdoors, I love to fish. I'm always concentrated on that — when's my next fishing trip, when's my next tournament," he said.

But from Saturday through Wednesday, he was in the water for another reason: helping flood victims in Houston, where he works for the city's police department. 

"Back and forth. Back and forth, load a boat. Twenty people, 26 people. Just back and forth, all day long," Ramon said.

The people he helped are now on his mind.

"God, I felt so sorry for those little children. They're crying and scared," Ramon said.

It's a distraction from his cancer.

"I ain't gonna let this hold me down," Ramon said.

He and the lake patrol team brought more than 1,000 people to safety. 

"I felt real good, you know, I was out there helping, giving. I wish we could have done more," Ramon said.

"He kept saying, 'I'm fine, I'm fine, leave me alone,'" said Cindy Ramon, his wife.

His wife and one of his coworkers wondered how he would hold up.

Cindy Ramon read a text from the sergeant, which said:

"I was worried that he might get tired, never did it show. Words cannot describe how proud I am of him for helping us out."

Now he's sitting safely in Tulsa, where they've chosen to get chemo treatment since July.

"The last time we were here was my first time experiencing a tornado," Bert Ramon said.

He said the care he's getting in Tulsa is worth the trip.

"Everybody knows each other and I just, I love it here. I have more hope here," he said.

But he's ready to go back to work.

 "I wanna thank the Almighty above for just keeping me going," he said.

The couple said we can consider them "adopted Tulsans."

Bert will be back again for his next treatment in two weeks.