Page 4
THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
FEATURE
October 9,1991
When life changes dramatically Burr remains optimistic
drive it. It will have an electronic
panel on the driver’s door for the
lights and signals, and there will
be special rods attached to the gas
pedal and the brake. Burr is opti-
mistic about driving and he said,
“It will enhance my independence
and freedom.”
Burr also hopes to write a
book someday. He has taken notes
throughout the past year and he
eventually wants to compile these
notes to be published.
“I’ve had a really difficult time
to decide what to do vocationally,
by Melissa Freels
Staff Reporter
One year ago Brian By/rr had
begun his senior year at Milwaukie
High School. He was the ASB
President, a member of the cross­
country team and a star wrestler.
But on November 10,1990 Burr’s
life changed dramatically.
“It was a busy day,” Burr said
as he explained that he had dropped
a friend off at a doctor’s office. He
was leaving in a hurry and fell 20
feet down a stairwell. Burr can’t
recall what caused the fall—the
entire accident is blocked out of
his memory by a blackout.
“The very first thing I remem­
ber was four days later,” said Burr.
It was then that he awoke in the
hospital and the doctors told him
that he was paralyzed. Burr didn’t
want to accept the fact that he’d
spend the rest of his life in a wheel­
chair and found it hard to see
everyone so upset.
Originally Burr had no body
"Foremost on my
mind is getting bet­
ter and to be able to
take my first step on
a wrestling mat."
11 / was determined to
graduate with every­
one in my class."
movement below his shoulders and
physicians said that his condition
wouldn’t improve. “Everything
they tell you is supposed to be
really pessimistic, in case nothing
does return,” Burr said. Eventu­
ally through therapy with thera-
bands he gained use of his biceps
and his progress gradually im­
proved. Burr remained in the
hospital until mid-December and
then went to an in-patient reha­
bilitation center until June.
During his hospital stay, Burr
found that he received the most
support from his mother. “She
was there constantly,” he said, “She
quit work to be with me during
rehabilitation.”
High school friends and class­
mates were also deeply suppor­
tive. Even months after the acci­
dent people would bring food to
him so he wouldn’t have to eat
three meals of hospital food each
day.
In addition to medical con­
cerns, Burr also tried to continue
with his education while he was in
rehabilitation. He was tutored at
the hospital because, as he said, “I
was determined to graduate with
everyone in my class.” He was re­
leased from rehabilitation two
weeks before graduation and
immediately went back to school
at Milwaukie.
Burr was given tremendous
help from the staff and the stu­
dents as far as assisting him'with
getting around the school, but he
still found it difficult emotionally.
“It seemed like I just missed out
on so much. It was tough. It was
very tough.”
This, however, was not Burr’s
first visit back to Milwaukie.
Throughout rehabilitation he
remained dedicated to his posi­
tion as ASB President.
“Whenever there was an as­
sembly I got out of all of my thera­
pies,” he said. “The very first time
I came back and began the assem­
bly, the Spirit Chairperson, Todd
McKee, told everyone to show me
Photo by John Fike
I want to be successful, financially
secure, and have a family, but what
I really want is to get better,” Bun
said.
Although he doesn’t believe
he will .prove pnysically, he is
looking for a char -e in medical
science. “In five years a medical
center in Miami hones to have a
big breakthroughi i a CNS (Cen­
tral Nervous System) cell repro­
duction method for quadriplegics
to regain arm and hand functions,”
he said optimistically.
“Foremost on my mind is
getting better and to be able to
take my first step on a wrestling
mat. But it’ll come in due time,”
Burr said. “I’ll just hang in there
and get my education while I’m
waiting.”
Brian Burr grins with confidence and determination as he continues his first year at
Clackamas. After his accident he looks at life in a different way. He looks forward to
the day that he can become 'upwardly mobile.'
how much they missed me.” The
student body responded by stand­
ing, clapping, and giving Burr a
warm supportive welcome.
It was that kind of support
that helped Burr get through it
all.
Out of everything, Burr found
that missing out on athletics has
been the most difficult. He had
wrestled all of his life and had
even begun running with the cross-
"... I began to real­
ize how important it
was that I still had
my life and my
mind."
country team to stay in shape for
wrestling. “It was the toughest
feeling,” he said, “But during this
time is when I began to realize
how important it was that I still
had my life and my mind. I real­
ized there’s a greater importance
in life than athletics, popularity,
and material things.”
Another area of Burr’s life
that changed was his independ­
ence. Now that he’s confined to a
wheelchair he is often dependent
on others for help.
“I can’t get out of bed and
into my wheelchair without help,”
he said. “I hate it when I’m con­
fined.” Burr has also found that
he needs help doing the little things
that the average person takes for
granted. “Like when I can almost
do things. For instance, I can get
the pop can out of the refrigerator
but I can’t pull the tab,” he said.
People have been generally
helpful in making some of those
tough things a little easier. Burr’s
stepfather, along with friends in
the construction business, modi­
fied his bedroom and bathroom
so that they are easily accessible.
Burr is currently attending
Clackamas on a Board of Direc­
tors Scholarship and is enrolled
as a full-time student. He has
received support from many stu­
dents and has found people that
will take notes for him in his classes.
Although Burr has a very
assertive attitude, he still feels a
little insecure. He has a lot of
friends at Clackamas and that helps
him overcome any fears. “It would
be tough if I didn’t know many
people,” he said.
As far a wheelchair accessi­
bility at Clackamas is concerned,
Burr hasn’t run into any prob­
lems. He does, however, find it a
little inconvenient to go to the
back of the building to the eleva­
tor or to sometimes take the long
route to class.
Burr’s experience has led him
to realize that “there’s a need for
making everything accessible” and
he recently took part in an Easter
Seals Public Service Announce­
ment. The commercial was filmed
in “The Sanctuary,” which is a
handicap accessible home at the
1991 Street of Dreams. Burr hopes
that the announcement will push
builders and show the need for
such homes. “Hopefully it makes
an impact,” he said.
Burr also strongly supports
many other groups. He has spo­
ken at a Don’t Drink and Drive
program geared toward the pre­
vention of accidents and of head
and spinal cord injuries.
WASTED
YOUTH.
*7 realized there's a
greater importance
in life than athletics,
popularity, and ma­
terial things."
As for the future Burr has a
positive outlook. He will soon be
getting a 1991 Plymouth Voyager
which will be modified so he can
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