Woman surprised with honorary paramedic license
By KELLY DAY • kday@muncie.gannett.com • June 9, 2008


MUNCIE -- After being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease two years ago, Claudia Burrows knew she would have to give up a job she loved.

As paramedic, Burrows had treated others with her condition, said Aaron Hoard, a friend and former coworker of Burrows, and she knew how her own illness was going to progress.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease, has made breathing difficult for Burrows, Hoard said. She's lost dexterity in her hands and her speech is slurred.

She can no longer do her job, and up until Sunday, she was dreading losing her flight paramedic certification next year.

"When you've spent that much time and money on something, to have it taken away from illness, that's tough stuff," said Amy Stockwell, who lives with Claudia and her son Christopher and assists them with their day-to-day needs.

But Sunday evening, Hoard and other friends of Burrows gathered in her home to present her with a lifetime paramedic certification issued by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to honor her work and her passion for helping people.

"I think it's neat that her colleagues would do that for her," Stockwell said.

Stockwell, Hoard and other friends of the Burrowses have been helping them for quite some time, mainly helping them raise money for a dog that can help Burrows and her son, Christopher, who has autism.

The dog will help Christopher down calm down when he experiences anxiety and will be able to find him if he gets lost, Burrows said.

"It's going to be really good for him," she said.

The family has raised $14,000 for the dog, but still needs money for a two-week trip to Ohio in October to train with the dog and bring it home.

A total of $3000 is needed for the trip, but the family has already raised $700.

Donations can be made to: Congregation of the Covenants, c/o Malcolm Smith, 6927 Thousand Oaks Lane, Indianapolis, IN 462114-3298.

Contact news reporter Kelly Day at 213-5827.

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