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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 359
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes great pride in |
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recognizing the courageous members of the Sutterfield family; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2018, Zachary Sutterfield suffered extensive |
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burns and a major head injury in an apartment fire that took the |
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lives of five persons; medical professionals treating his wounds |
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did not originally expect him to survive; and |
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WHEREAS, Zachary's mother, Deona Jo "DJ" Sutterfield, who |
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served as a medic in the United States Army, the Hawaii National |
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Guard, and the Texas National Guard, has been by his side ever since |
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the fire; she took a leave of absence from her job with the United |
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States Department of Agriculture to provide him with |
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round-the-clock care, including daily wound care, bathing, |
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feeding, and helping with his physical rehabilitation regimen; and |
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WHEREAS, Zachary has also received support and love from |
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his father, Karl Sutterfield, and from his brother, both of whom |
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have provided support and care, along with the invaluable |
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companionship and affection that have helped him to overcome the |
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emotional and mental effects of his devastating injuries; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his ordeal, Zachary has demonstrated |
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great perseverance and an indefatigable will to live; he still |
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has plans to pursue a bachelor's degree and his dreams of |
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teaching English, attending law school, entering politics, and |
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getting married and raising a family; he has retained his |
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mischievous sense of humor, and the family has continued its |
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habit of joking with one another and mantaining an optimistic |
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outlook; and |
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WHEREAS, Deona Jo Sutterfield has been named the Texas |
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Mother of the Year, not only for her devotion and self-sacrifice |
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but also for her commitment to helping to prevent similar |
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tragedies from happening to others; she has already begun |
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organizing Brighter than Fire, a nonprofit organization |
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dedicated to educating young adults regarding fire safety; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th |
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Legislature, hereby commend the members of the Sutterfield |
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family on their courage and resilience in the face of tremendous |
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adversity; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the family as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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Perry |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 6, 2021. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |