OU Children's doctor recalls dark day of April 19th, 1995

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — This month marks 30 years since a bomb exploded in downtown Oklahoma City, killing 168 people at the Murrah Federal Building.

Many Oklahomans can recall exactly where they were and what they were doing when it all unfolded.

A doctor at OU Children's Hospital can recollect the same, as he was just beginning his career, shortly before the bombing.

Dr. Morris Gessouroun says he remembers the day vividly.

Dr. Gessouroun and his team realized there was a daycare inside the Murrah Building, so they knew their work at OU Children's Hospital was going to be vital.

"We realized we had to get into a disaster mode," Dr. Gessouroun said. "Many of us went down to the emergency department to be ready to accept patients."

April 19th, 1995, is not a day many forget, including Dr. Gessouroun.

"I remember being in a patient room, I was sitting there looking at a patient, standing right by their ventilator, right by the window, and I sort of felt the shake of the building and looked towards the window and it seemed like the window was vibrating,' said Dr. Gessouroun.

At first, he thought it was the hospital's helicopter landing.

"It wasn't long after that, the TVs in all the patient rooms started showing what had happened downtown," Dr. Gessouroun said.

Disaster struck as a bomb exploded outside the Murrah Building.

They knew of the daycare inside the building, so they began preparing for patients.

"One of the things that I remember the most is the fact that parents came in looking for their children and no children had arrived yet," said Dr. Gessouroun.

He says that changed moments later.

"We received a total of five patients that came to the Children's Hospital Emergency Department and ultimately were all admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit," said Dr. Gessouroun.

Miraculously, each one survived, though some took months to recover.

But for Dr. Gessouroun, the scars never leave.

"You get up in front of folks and start talking about it, and all of a sudden emotions start developing in you that just kicked you by surprise," Dr. Gessouroun said. "So, it stays with you forever."

The hospital has changed since then, with only the writing on the wall remaining.

"I think Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was the first person decided I think that was the case," Dr. Gessouroun said. "I don't even know if we can find her among all the people on the wall. Here it is. Wow. There it is. So, she was the first one. You can see Kathy Keating signed it, Nancy Kerrigan, the ice skater."

Each signature showing support, now covered in glass and etched in history.

"I think it's a tribute to the institution to recognize that this is history and to keep it and maintain it and protect it," said Dr. Gessouroun.

Dr. Gessouroun keeps in contact with the families and children he treated that day, and said they are all doing well.