Unsung Heroes

Put simply, our club could not survive without the work of so many that goes unnoticed, but in this edition we have a story to tell about how one of our players and their family played the role of heroes away from the field, not once, but twice, in just the last 3 months!

A Life-Saving Rescue in Florida

The first story begins far from their Northern KY home, where on a stormy June day in Siesta Key, Florida, the Bells were enjoying a family vacation when a torrential downpour caused severe flooding, leaving streets submerged under more than 11 inches of rain. Amidst this chaos, a couple who they later found were from the Greater Cincinnati area as well, Dean and Shana Ramsey, found themselves in grave danger. Their car, stalled on a flooded street, was pulled into a lagoon.

From their condo on the fifth floor, the Bell family witnessed the desperate situation unfolding below. Quick-thinking McKenzie (10), new to CUSC this fall, immediately called 911, providing the address of their condo with remarkable clarity. At the same time Ginger Bell, an ER doctor, and Mike Bell, a retired CPD sergeant, sprang into action. Ginger: “We certainly never thought McKenzie would need to talk to 911 but literally the first words out of her mouth were the address of where we were staying” 

“We were able to stop, slow things down, and assess and make some decisions on how we were going to move forward,” Mike Bell recalls.

This is where Hank Bell comes in. Just 8 years old, he showed incredible resourcefulness. Mike had already grabbed a boogie board from their car but then realized they needed another flotation device. Hank quickly returned to the 5th floor condo to retrieve their pool noodle. “I didn’t want them to die, so I ran as fast as I could,” Hank explains. “I went up the elevator, which is extremely slow, and I knew there were stairs that were faster, so I ran down the stairs.”

Mike and Ginger were in the water trying to help Dean and Shana, and once he got back downstairs Hank was able to get them what they needed. “Turning around in the pond and seeing Hank IN the pond in the lightening with a pool noddle was so brave and awesome!” Ginger said.

Mike was able to help Shana first with the help of another bystander on the edge of the pond, but Ginger encountered more of a challenge with Dean who initially rolled his window down, but then put it back up. Ginger yelled at him to open it as that was his only escape route. As he eventually got out of the window his foot became stuck on the steering wheel. Dean feared for the worse, ““I looked at her, and I said, ‘I’m stuck, I can’t.’ At that time, I was like, ‘I’m going down with the car,’ but she’s like, ‘Get out of this car! You gotta get out! Kick your leg!’ I started thrashing my leg and my foot popped out.”

Once everyone was safely out of the water, Hank and Michaela (11) returned to the 5th floor again and assisted in wrapping the Ramseys in towels, ensuring they were warm and safe. All this before the emergency services arrived on scene, which had only been 5 minutes since McKenzie's call. Within 2 more minutes the the car was fully submerged and drifted to the edge of the pond. Their swift and selfless actions earned the whole Bell family the gratitude of the Ramseys, who have since referred to them as “Guardian Angels.”

But the story doesn't end there.

Overcoming Personal Adversity

Less than 2 months later, the Bell family faced a new kind of challenge. Hank suffered a severe injury in a bike accident, where he was impaled in his left thigh. The injury was so critical that it affected his femoral nerve, quad muscles, and femoral artery. Without immediate medical intervention, the situation could have been fatal.

The initial prognosis was daunting. Doctors estimated that Hank might only be able to walk by Thanksgiving. For nearly ten days, he experienced no movement in his left leg, and his pain was excruciating. Despite these hardships, Hank’s recovery was nothing short of miraculous. With sheer determination and an immense support system, Hank defied the odds. It wasn't long before he was back out at practice, albeit in a wheelchair at first. By September 5th, he was cleared to start jogging and running, and he returned to the soccer field to practice with his new CUSC team this fall. [Hank plays for CUSE 16B Dortmund whilst his sister McKenzie plays for CUSE 14G Barcelona]

His coach, Erika True, was astonished by his recovery: “As you can imagine I asked about a 1000 questions to make sure I could wrap my head around this (I honestly still can't!)”. Despite the lingering pain and challenges, Hank's resolve was evident as he played in a game just one day after his return to practice. His perseverance and love for the game shone brightly, motivating everyone around him. Ginger Bell expressed her hope that Hank's story serves as motivation for others facing similar challenges. “We hope he is an inspiration to every kid with an injury to work hard and keep fighting,” she said. “Hank will be in physical therapy for many more months strengthening his leg as he has permanent damage, but he is elated to be back on the field trying his best.”

We all hope that his recovery continues, and Erika on behalf of the club summarized this well: "Truly an inspiring story. I am probably taking it way more slowly than Hank cares for me to do... but I wouldn't expect anything less from an 8 year old that loves the game. 😁“

A Remarkable Journey of Courage and Recovery

The Bell family's stories are a powerful testament to courage, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit. From saving lives in Florida to overcoming a life-threatening injury, they have faced their challenges with incredible fortitude. Their experiences remind us of the importance of focus, patience, and belief in our ability to overcome obstacles.

To read more about the Bell family's heroic rescue, we have included a link at the bottom of the page to a Fox News story that was posted online. The family also wanted to ensure that we passed on some of the following safety tips and general reminders that relate to both of their stories this summer. Their goal is to educate and inspire, and we thank them for it.

• Teaching kids their address and emergency procedures can be a crucial step in being prepared for unexpected situations.
• Water safety:
• In the event that your vehicle ends up in the water, push back the driver seat or try to get out of the passenger side as the steering wheel is a barrier.
• The door is probably not going to open because of all the force of the water outside.
• If you have to break the windows aim for the corners as the center is the strongest.
• If you have to perform a water rescue use a flotation decide if at all possible. You can’t count on having an awake alert swimmer who will follow directions. 
• Check your surroundings (Mike looked for alligator signs before they went into the water)
• Kids in rehab:
• Keeping them mentally happy is super important. (Friends and family kept Hank supplied with Legos and he read the same motivational get well card from a fellow CUSC player every day).
• Eating a high protein diet and taking vitamins in addition to getting extra rest is really important.
• Believe in yourself and never give up! 

We celebrate the Bell family as true unsung heroes! Good luck to Hank with his recovery and McKenzie on her fall season.