St. David’s healthcare worker honored in NASCAR’s “Real Heroes 400”

AUSTIN, Texas - NASCAR is returning to the track for the first time in two months this weekend. In “The Real Heroes 400” at Darlington Raceway, they will be honoring healthcare workers on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.

Each car will carry the name of a healthcare worker nominated by FOX affiliates. FOX 7 Austin will be honoring J.T Corbitt, a respiratory therapist at St. David's Medical Center.

The East Texas native doesn’t consider himself a hero, but the work he does at St. David’s is nothing short of heroic. Driven by the help his grandfather received battling chronic lung disease, Corbitt has dedicated his life to helping others.

“He was in and out of the hospital towards the end of his life,” said Corbitt. “All of us kind of came into healthcare with a desire to help people. We all have this crazy obligation to do that every day at work and that’s why we do it. We just care so much and I just really hope that it’s shown through what I do.”

His hard work shined when St. David’s Medical Center had its first COVID-19 case. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrew Moore said the patient was critically ill and required a ventilator. The patient was on a ventilator for 32 days. 

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“J.T is a frontline soldier, went in there, did his job and he did exceptional work,” said Dr. Moore. “No small part from J.T’s work that the patient was able to start breathing on his own.”

The ventilator was removed and the patient is now in rehabilitation. Dr. Moore said he’s improving every day. Dr. Moore spoke highly of Corbitt and beamed with pride talking about staff at St. David’s.

“We are all in this together,” said Dr. Moore. “We know the risk COVID in particular poses to our community but this is our community. We are servants first and we know we are going to get through this.”

Corbitt is quick to remind others he doesn’t work alone, he proudly leads a team of everyday heroes in scrubs at St. David’s.

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“We care about our patients,” Corbitt said.“We care about these people so much and that’s why we would come back and do this every single day.”

Corbitt’s name will be displayed on a NASCAR driver’s car Sunday for “The Real Heroes 400.” The race will begin at 2:30 p.m. Central on FOX.

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