Sober news from Chicago
On August 25th, Tahirah Johnson aka Tequila Mockingbird of the Fury went down in a pile up and fractured her C4 Vertebrae during a bout. The medical staff reacted very quickly to stabilize her.
She is being treated at Schwab Rehabilitation Center on the South Side of Chicago. She has partial use of just one arm and no use of her legs. But she has feeling in her limbs.
A trust has been set up in her name to pay for her medical bills.
North Community Bank
c/o The Tahirah Johnson Trust
Attn: Amber Barnhill
1555 N. Damen
Chicago, IL 60622
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Hi Colonel!
Thanks for the support for Tequila. We’re all rooting for her! I just wanted to let you know that she’s still working hard to get back to where she was and that she’s got a long way to go. I’ve been passing the following letter onto everyone I can. Maybe if enough people know her story, she’ll be o.k. If you or your readers would be able to pass on the word. We would appreciate it. Thank you!!
Juanna Rumbel
“On August 25, 2007, a very passionate roller derby
skater named Tequila Mockingbird had a severe accident
during a game. Tequila, one of the original league
members of the Windy City Rollers is still
hospitalized over six weeks later and will remain so
for weeks to come. Tequila, whose real name is Tahirah
Johnson, has no movement in her legs or right arm. She
is able to move her left arm and has limited feeling
in that hand.
I met Tequila when I started the league over three
years ago. I never knew much about her at the time. I
knew she had the best attendance with the WCR’s first
round of girls. I knew that if you walked down the
street, you were almost guaranteed to see her cruising
by on her bicycle. I knew that she outran me at boot
camps and that whenever I laced up my skates, she’d be
right beside me.
Lately, I’ve been sitting with Tequila watching her
learn to eat again, seeing her exhaustion after a
three-hour PT sessions and all the while, listening as
she makes jokes about how walking has always been so
overrated. But, that’s the beauty of Tequila. She’s
always pushed the boundaries, in herself and with
others. She always says what she wants to say without
a censor, and without apologies. She’s simply an
amazing woman that I am lucky to know.
On October 27th at the Five Star Lounge, The Fury will
be there to help raise money for Tequila. This money
will go toward her medical bills, her loss of income,
and hopefully, leave something for when she’s finally
able to return home. Obviously, we are seeking funds
foremost, but honestly, just by passing on this email
and promoting this event, you will be contributing
more than you know.
One of the basic philosophies that my partner and I
had when we started this league was that with
compassion, faith, and a sense of community anything
can happen. We believed that there was time and a
place for everything. And now, I ask that you
recognize that this is one of those times. Show your
compassion, remind her that she has people to support
her and let’s give her the faith she needs to get
through the years ahead.
Thank you!
Juanna Rumbel, a.k.a. Elizabeth Gomez, #87 of The
Fury, and FRIEND to Tahirah Johnson
P.S. If you can’t come to the party, please donate via paypal
TheTahirahJohnsonTrust@gmail. com Checks can also be
mailed to: North Community Bank c/o The Tahirah
Johnson Trust Attn: Amber Barnhill 1555 N. Damen
Chicago, IL 60622 **Donations will be tax-deductible.”