Injured Hurricane Volunteer Recovering

By Craig Day, News On 6

UNDATED -- A Tahlequah woman hurt helping hurricane victims is making progress. Beverly Kohl is now back in Oklahoma to continue her recovery closer to family and friends.

Kohl's been through a lot in the past month and a half, a journey that began by volunteering with a Southern Baptist Relief team to help Hurricane Gustav relief efforts, but interrupted by a freak accident.

Kohl fell from the back of a mobile feeding unit.

"She has pretty serious spinal cord injuries, which have affected her movement and body and she's trying to recover from that," said Leonard Brill, Beverly's brother.

Kohl ended up in ICU in Baton Rouge. She's now undergoing treatment at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

"It's slow and it seems painfully slow, but she's improving every day and that's what we wanted and that's what she's doing.  It's just going to be a long process," said Brill.

The career nurse, has a long history of volunteerism, including two trips to Sierre Leone, one for six months aboard a Mercy ship.

"She just helps other people and she'll go anywhere to do anything, anytime she is called on to do it," said Brill.

A special website has been created to update Beverly's condition. She's now getting get well wishes from people all over the world.

"Although with the ventilator she can't speak, when we read those messages, she cries tears of joy down her cheeks and it is just real inspirational to watch her do that," said Brill.

Beverly and her family believe her recovery so far is because of excellent medical care, and prayer and encouragement she's received.

"I believe it is also because of the best wishes and prayers that people are sending.  We expect that her improvements will continue.  We're patient and she's strong and we know we'll see her walking again before too long," said Brill.

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9/23/2008 - Hurricane Relief Volunteer Remains In ICU