In times of tragedy, people turn to their faith, and the night five police officers lost their lives in Dallas was no different.
That's why the pastoral care staff at Baylor University Medical Center called in extra help on the night of the shooting.
Staff chaplain Millicent Albert was making her rounds when she received a call from a colleague who was in the Emergency Department as shooting victims began to arrive.
She says when she made it down to the ER, she knew the night would be a long one.
"There was an absolute multitude of police officers, just a family of police officers," Albert said. "At that time, I knew that it was bad. I knew that we were going to need all the help we could get."
Albert is trained in critical incident stress management, but says the emotional difficulty of the evening reached a level she had never experienced.
In all, eight chaplains were on site to help patients and staff with emotional and spiritual needs.
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"Faith is very, very important because it's that element of hope that goes along with faith, and without hope you start experiencing hopelessness," Albert said.
"You're looking at victims who were out there protecting other people, doing nothing wrong, but walking upright, in their calling. They're doing what they're doing and protecting, and they get killed for that," said Albert, as she described why that night was the most difficult of her career.
But, she says, with faith comes strength.
"I know everybody doesn't believe in God but whatever your source of strength is, hold onto it," she said.
