May 7, 1984

Commendation sought for teen hero

       White River Volunteer Fire Department members are seeking a special commendation for a 14 year old boy they believe saved the life of his 14 month old sister.  Assistant Fire Chief Pat McDaniel said Stuart Donaldson gave his sister Hilliary mouth to mouth resuscitation when the child was not breathing April 27.  Debby Donaldson, Hilliary and Stuart’s mother, said she considers there were three heroes in the incident, her son, and family friends Butch and Amber Debrew.

         Amber, 6, brought Hilliary to Mrs. Donaldson when she noticed the child was not breathing after falling off a bed in the Debrew home.  Butch attempted to revive Hilliary by resuscitating her, but was unsuccessful.  Stuart came into the room and told Debrew he wasn’t doing the first air procedure correctly.  Two months earlier Stuart participated in a cardiopulmonary course given by University Heights Hospital nurses at Center Grove Middle School, Mrs. Donaldson said.  When Butch could not revive the baby, he let Stuart take over.  Stuart revived his sister before White River Township rescue workers arrived at the Debrew’s home.

         Hilliary was taken to St. Francis Hospital Center in Beech Grove where she stayed for three days.  The child is now doing fine, Mrs. Donaldson said.  McDaniel said she hopes the American Heart Association, the agency that commissioned the nurses to do the training at Center Grove, will give Stuart a commendation.  Monday Greenwood Police Department dispatcher John Brinkman was given a commendation from Greenwood City Council members for his instructions to a White River Township woman that saved a two year old boy choking on candy.
 
 

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