Mrs. Don Burress This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Plainview Daily Herald

   www.plainviewonthe.net/n2w/par - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/2/2003   Last Visited: 6/2/2003

   Mrs. Burress is recovering from injuries received in a serious auto wreck. Sadie joined the family a few weeks after that wreck and has been instrumental in her owner´s recovery.
   
   "She goes just about everywhere I go. I´ve never been as close to a dog as I have her," Mrs. Burress said.
   
   Back in April 2002, Mrs. Burress, who was employed by Lubbock Aid Ambulance Service, was driving an ambulance to Lubbock while paramedics worked in the back with a 4-month-old baby who was suffering respiratory distress.
   
   "We were going Code 3, with the lights and sirens," she explained.
   
   As she pulled off Loop 289 to exit onto Quaker Avenue in Lubbock, another vehicle rammed the ambulance.
   
   "A Tech student said he didn´t see or hear us and hit my side," she said.
   
   Ironically, as it turned out, the wreck would have both positive and negative consequences.
   
   On the positive side, Mrs. Burress explained, a paramedic had been administering CPR to the baby, who had stopped breathing, when the wreck occurred.
   
   The impact caused the paramedic to fall on the baby, which jolted the child into breathing on its own.
   
   On the negative side, one of the two paramedics was injured and Mrs. Burress was knocked unconscious.
   
   She wound up with neck, back and wrist injuries, and also a closed-head injury.
   
   Although she was treated and released from the hospital, she has spent the past year going through "physical and brain therapy."
   
   She is much improved, but still suffers from memory loss and motor and sensory problems.
   
   Enter Sadie.
   
   Mrs. Burress, who is married to Don Burress, training and safety officer with the Plainview Fire Department, got Sadie a few weeks after the wreck.
   
   The two have since been inseparable and Mrs. Burress admits the little dog is just a bit spoiled.
   
   "Don says she has more clothes than he does," she laughed.
   
   Sadie has played an important role in Mrs. Burress´s rehabilitation in several ways.
   
   First, the dog has given her something to work with as she struggled to regain her motor and verbal skills.
   
   "They told me at brain rehab it was very important to talk to myself," Mrs. Burress said, explaining that she talks to Sadie as well.
   
   Also, she has been able to work on her motor skills as she bathes her dog and even paints the dog´s nails.
   
   Although Sadie relates well to all of the family, clearly she is Mrs. Burress´s dog.
   
   "She´s real protective of me . . . very protective," Mrs. Burress explained.
   
   Perhaps most important, the little Chihuahua has been an emotional support for her owner, who still suffers severe headaches almost on a daily basis.
   
   When Mrs. Burress doesn´t feel well, she said, Sadie will climb onto her lap and start to whine.
   
   "When I cry it´s like she will cry too. She knows when something is wrong with me."
   
   So, Mrs. Burress threw her dog a birthday party. The family got her a soft doggie pillow and some chew toys.
   
   Sadie has her own little swimming pool and "eats people food."
   
   That doesn´t seem too extravagant for a little dog who has helped her owner carry a heavy load for the past year.
   
   Posted to MyPlainview: JUNE 02, 2003 13:04 CST

2. 2. www.myplainview.com

   www.myplainview.com/site/news. - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/29/2007   Last Visited: 8/30/2007

   The interim chiefs are Capt. Albert Perez, Capt. Dale Harris, Capt. Rusty Powers, Fire Marshal Philip Mize and Training Officer Don Burress.

3. 3. www.myplainview.com

   www.myplainview.com/site/news. - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/29/2007   Last Visited: 8/30/2007

   The interim chiefs are Capt. Albert Perez, Capt. Dale Harris, Capt. Rusty Powers, Fire Marshal Philip Mize and Training Officer Don Burress.