U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) hailed Earnest Briggs Monday as a hero whose "extraordinary actions " saved a woman's life.
The actions convinced U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, to present a Lone Star Award to Briggs, who is a TRAX transportation driver, during the meeting of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments in Texarkana, Texas.
Briggs works at ATOCG as a driver in the low-cost transportation program called TRAX.
Briggs had a hunch something was wrong with Brenda McCoy when he arrived at her house in rural Bowie County to take her to a medical appointment. She was not feeling well and canceled the trip and would not answer the door-something she had never done before, according to Ratcliffe.
"Sensing something was wrong, Briggs took action to make sure the woman was checked on by her family before moving onto his next scheduled assignment. His efforts led to a family member rushing to check on the woman, who was found to be in a critical medical condition. She was having insulin shock," he said.
When McCoy and her daughters arrived at the hospital, they learned she had a record high blood sugar level-over 1,100 mg/dl. McCoy spent seven days in intensive care and 20 days in a rehabilitation facility before being released, said a news report published in the Texarkana Gazette June 9.
McCoy was unable to attend the presentation Monday, said Ratcliffe.
"I came here to help people and I'm thankful I can help people. This is a good job and a good opportunity. I want to keep on doing what I'm doing," said Briggs.
"I launched the Lone Star Award as a way to recognize residents in the Fourth District of Texas who perform significant actions of kindness and compassion. "I hope highlighting their stories can inspire others in our communities," Ratcliffe said.
TRAX, part of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments, provides more than 100,000 trips annually throughout nine counties in Northeast Texas. As a rural public transit district, funded by the Federal Transit Administration and Texas Department of Transportation, service is available to any resident in the area in need of transportation.