Meet the Sooner fans fulfilling the dream of a Purple Heart recipient
NORMAN — A few weeks ago, I had the honor of sharing the story of Lt. Col. Steven Fisher.
Wounded while deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. Refused an airlift for treatment. Stayed at his post despite injuries that continue to require surgery, care and treatment now seven years later.
He received a Purple Heart, too.
And when the coach of his favorite college football team sent a signed football as a token of gratitude, Fisher said thank you with a Purple Heart coin. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley has promised to carry it with him every game this season.
Quite a story. Saturday, it adds another chapter.
On an evening when little drama is expected — lowly Kansas will face an OU team still solidly in the playoff chase — there will be great excitement in Section 34. In the southeast corner of the stadium, Fisher will be sitting and watching his Sooners for the first time.
Never before has he seen an OU game in person — and his wife, Colleen, who will accompany him, reports that he is pumped.
Still, Fisher might not be more excited than the men who have made this whole thing a reality.
As big a Sooner fan as Fisher is, he never had the time to attend a game while he was in the military. And since he retired from the Air Force a few years ago — he reached a point where he needed to focus on his health instead of his work — he hasn’t had the funds.
When Fisher told me that, I thought, “Should I make a plea for Sooner Nation to help him get to a game?”
Turns out, I didn’t have to.
Only a few hours after Fisher’s story hit readers’ driveways, I got a phone call from Jackie Donaldson, an OU season ticket holder. He and his wife wanted to let Fisher and his wife use two of their four seats during a game.
Then came the email from Kent Hoffman, a longtime Sooner fan who counts OU games among some of the fondest memories of his life. He wanted to provide hotel lodging for the Fishers.
Then Ed Fernandez emailed. As a California resident who never had enough money as a student to attend games but now has resources to fly regularly to Sooner games, he wanted to provide airfare for Lt. Col. Fisher.
Three fans reached out independently, each wanting to provide something different.
It was a sign — this was meant to happen.
And because of those three men, it will.
Donaldson was moved to action when he read of Fisher’s decision to stay with his team even when medical personnel suggested he be airlifted. Hoffman felt a connection with Fisher’s bravery and sacrifice because of his own family’s long and distinguished military service. Fernandez was awed by someone who would give of himself even at his own expense.
A true hero, Fernandez called Fisher.
“Truly an example of the best of humanity,” Fernandez said, “and it’s so inspiring and instills hope in me for the future if we can all do more of that.”
Lt. Col. Steve Fisher isn’t the only one who gives me hope.
So do strangers who make the dreams of others come true.