May 20, 2026. Game two of the NBA’s Western Conference Finals. The Thunder had their first win over the Spurs, sparking an electricity that could be felt across the city. Schools were finishing their final week, and The Wiz was killing it on stage at the Civic Center.
For Seth Lewis, May 20 began as just another day. He went to the Thunder game with friends and even got his face painted with the iconic thunderbolt logo. After the game, he celebrated the win in Bricktown before finally hopping on an electric scooter to head back to his Midtown apartment. It was a route he had taken many times, navigating the empty downtown streets around midnight.
At the same time, physical therapist Lauren Ferguson and registered nurse Sara Cook were finishing off their evening by showing their daughters, Hadley and Katherine, the new Clara Luper Sit-In Plaza at the corner of Robinson and Robert S. Kerr. They were vaguely aware of Lewis zipping by on his scooter as they took in the life-sized statues, when they heard the unmistakable sounds of an accident.
Being healthcare professionals, Ferguson and Cook ran to assist Lewis, who was thrown from his scooter onto the streetcar tracks. They immediately began administering CPR and called for an ambulance. Katherine even thought to say “Hey Siri, call Mom” into his phone, informing his mother, Diana Lewis, of the accident. Lewis was considered a trauma level III and was transported to OU Health.
Lewis sustained significant injuries, including a brain bleed as well as multiple broken bones in his face and ribs. He drifted in and out of consciousness for a week, remembering nothing of the accident and very little of his time in the ICU.
When Lewis finally woke up, he became aware of the incredible way Oklahoma City had rallied together in his time of need. To offset the cost of medical bills and other expenses like rent and utilities, a GoFundMe was created. The Oklahoma Standard represents a culture of caring, providing acts of service and kindness without hesitation. This instance of crowdfunding was the epitome of this initiative. Within hours, Lewis had met his initial goal, which has since had to be raised three times. At the time of writing this, almost 500 individual donors have raised over $90,000. Hundreds of people came together to provide resources for one man, raising him up with love and hope.
It’s no wonder so many people wanted to help. Lewis is a prominent member of Oklahoma City, who has been selflessly giving back to his community for over 20 years. He began his philanthropy with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and later worked with the Oklahoma branch of St. Jude’s Hospital and the American Heart Association. He helped fundraise for Lyric Theatre through its Understudies group and serves on the board for the Oklahoma City Ballet. Many know him as having been the director of Festival of the Arts for five years, and he is responsible for bringing the annual holiday pop-up bar “Miracle” to OKC.
The generosity of Oklahoma City extends far beyond the financial aspect. Lewis said that he is reminded of how caring our community is every single day. “People have been reaching out with messages to see how I’m doing or that they are thinking of me. They make sure I have a meal coming. I’m so proud to say that I’m from Oklahoma City, and that when I was down the city showed up. There aren’t enough words to say thank you.”
Lewis acknowledges that even though the accident was horrendous, he is so lucky to live in Oklahoma City and be a part of an incredible community. But his biggest blessings are the two heroes who happened to be close by and leapt into action. “I am forever grateful to Lauren and Sara,” Lewis said. “They were just two strangers who saved my life and now we are connected for life.”
To keep up with Seth’s story, visit WithSeth.org.
