Dana Ray Barrett

  • Last Name: Barrett
  • First Name: Dana Ray
  • Row: 10
  • Plot: 5
  • Side: Left
  • Birth: 1944-08-15
  • Death: 1953-02-06
  • Remarks: son of Barbee & Florine Barrett CAMERON POLIO VICTIM RESTING WELL, STILL SERIOUS Dana Barrett, 7-year-old Cameron polio victim, was reported resting well but still in serious condition at Crippled Childrens Hospital Friday night. He was admitted last week for treatment of bulbar polio and has been in an iron lung since. Dana is son of Mr. and Mrs. Barbee Barrett of Cameron. Waco News-Tribune, 17 May 1952 TRUCK SPEEDS IRON LUNG TO WACO HOSPITAL The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis Friday night rushed a tank-type iron lung from its San Antonio equipment pool to Crippled Childrens Hospital, which had its only tank iron lung and Wacos only other available lung in use…When the critically-ill child was admitted to childrens hospital Thursday night, no tank-type lung was available. The only one the hospital has was in operation for a Cameron polio victim, Dana Barrett, who was reported still in critical condition Friday. He has been in the lung several weeks… Waco News-Tribune, 24 May 1952 PLEA SOUNDED FOR NURSES AT HOSPITAL Crippled Childrens Hospital Monday afternoon issued an appeal for registered special nurses needed to provide care required by a number of new polio patients on a 24-hour schedule. …A third Cameron polio victim, Dana Barrett, was reported “holding his own.â€ï† He is in one of the iron lungs. Waco News-Tribune, 27 May 1952 BOYS “MEDICINEâ€ï† FRIDAY TO BE BIG BIRTHDAY PARTY Seven-year-old Dana Barrett of Cameron doesnt know it, but he is going to have a big eighth birthday celebration Friday. The pale-faced little boy has been in an iron lung at Crippled Childrens Hospital for nearly 4 monthsâ€â€a victim of polio. He doesnt realize that Friday is Aug. 15, his birthday. Dana doesnt look much like he would go for a big party. But hospital attendants believe a “nice birthdayâ€ï† is just what Dana needs. He has been in the iron lung since May 2. Waco News-Tribune, 11 Aug 1952 POLIO FORGOTTEN IN BIRTHDAY PARTY By Betty Dollins News-Tribune Staff Dana Barretts eighth birthday was a fine affairâ€â€one of the black-eyed boy wont forget for a long time. In his iron lung at Crippled Childrens Hospital, the Cameron polio victims cheeks lost their dull pallor, and flushed near scarlet with excitement. Red and green crepe paper streamers were all around the big tank. It wasnt just another Friday and Danas 106th day in the iron lung. There wasnt time for the usual afternoon nap or mid-morning arithmetic games. Just for the one day, there wasnt even time for practice breathing. “Gee, gosh, it was a wonderful Friday,â€ï† Dana said, his eyes shining in the overhead mirror of his tank. “I betcha, momma, I dont forget this for a long, long time.â€ï† Like Christmas His tall slender father rubbed the boys freshly cut crew haircut, pinched his ear, and with his eyes downcast, continued his gift-unwrapping assignment. His mother busied herself with the other packages. The party gaiety dulled the deep breathing sound of the lung apparatus. “Its almost like Christmas, momma,â€ï† Dana said with his mouth half full of angel food cake. He tried to eat, talk, laugh and look wide-eyed around the room, crowded with presents and visitors all at the same time. In other rooms on the isolation floor, other young patients forgot about hot packs, tub soakings, and muscle exercise. They ate thick slices of Danas birthday cakes. It was a two-cake party, and with just a little help, Dana blew out every single candle. New Cowboy Outfit His young mothers face grew anxious when he asked her to light the candles so he could blow them out. After the first cake, he was still game for the second candle-blowing feat. At home, everyone got in on the cake baking for Danas birthday. The second cake was a gift from Caseys Bakery. The gaily wrapped packages addressed to Dana, toys to play with, turtles and fish to watch, records to listen to and books to read. Friday afternoon, he had new cowboy boots, flashy western shirt, blue jeans, guns and scapards, a cowboy hat and scarf, with longhorn neckerchief slide. All of the gifts came from his mother and father, relatives and hospital friends with the exception of the green cowboy boots. Ralph Piazza of Piazza Bros. Shoe Repair head that Dana was a real cowboy, and needed a new pair of boots. So he sent him the handsomest pair on the shelf. Dana also had a new stack of photographs taken at home. Bunny hadnt chanked much since Dana went to the hospital May 2, and Sambo (thats the horse) is being taken good care of by Danas brother Norvelle. Brother Couldnt Come Norvelle, 9, couldnt come to the hospital for the party, since children arent allowed in the isolation department. He sent a present and a card, and Dana sent one of his presents back home for him to play with. A brand new phonograph player was already getting a good work out from Hopalong Cassidy and Red Ryder albums before the afternoon was over. Dana stopped opening gifts long enough to name four goldfish and two miniature turtles. They first four goldfish were christened, “Flopsy, Mopsey, Cottontail, and Peter.â€ï† The turtles, a blue one and a red one were named Pokey and Red, respectively. The little patients finished off Danas birthday with a cartoon picture show party. Waco News-Tribune, 16 Aug 1952 SCHOOL BEGINS TODAY FOR VICTIMS OF POLIO Crippled Childrens Hospital is going to have its own little red schoolhouse. Thursday at 8:15 a. m., the school bell will ring. And it will probably be the nicest sound the young patients in beds and iron lungs have heard since Santas sleigh bells last Christmas. Nine-year-old Dana Barrett of Cameron, who has been in an iron lung since about a month before school let out last summer, can get started on his third grade school work. He doesnt want to lag behind his old schoolmates. They are already deep in multiplication tables. Nurses say Dana is already something of a mathematical genius. In any spare time they have, the nurses and other members of the hospital staff coach the youngsters a little in arithmetic and spelling and the youngsters coach each other. …The school will be set up in the hospitals recreation room. Dana and Jean [Gentry] will have classes in their own room, and for that reason additional volunteer teachers are needed. Waco News-Tribune, 13 Nov 1952 POLIO VICTIM IN IRON LUNG HAS DAUGHTER Mrs. John Wiley, 21-year-old Groesbeck mother who gave birth to a baby girl in an iron lung at Providence Hospital Sunday, was reported in “fair conditionâ€ï† at Crippled Childrens Hospital last night. …Four pound, 11 ounce Dana Jean is the namesake of Dana Barrett, 8, of Cameron, and Jean Gentry, 10, of Hamilton. They have been in iron lungs at the hospital since last May. Waco News-Tribune, 25 Nov 1952 CRIPPLED CHILDRENS WARDS ALL SET FOR ST. NICKS VISIT Crippled Childrens Hospital is ready for a visit from Santa Claus. Hell find three gleaming trees, one on each floor and a third one in the room where two young iron lung patients must remain. Dana Barrett, 8, of Cameron, and Jean Gentry, 10, of Hamilton, directed placement of the tree beside their iron lungs Monday night. They have been in iron lungs since last May and are victims of polio. Members of Xi Omega Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi decorated the tree with Dana and Jeans supervision. Waco News-Tribune, 16 Dec 1952
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  • Obituary: FUNERAL SERVICES HELD FOR DANA BARRETT, VICTIM OF POLIO Danna Barrett, eight year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Barbee Barrett, died at the Waco Childrens Hospital Friday morning, Feb. 6, 1953. He had been a polio patient at the hospital since May 2, 1952. Danna was attending school at Ada Henderson school when he was stricken last spring. He was in the second grade. Danna was born Aug. 15, 1944 and has lived with his parents in the Marak community most of his life. His mother is the former Florine Fuchs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fuchs of Buckholts. During the time he was in the hospital, he was never able to leave the iron lung for more than a few minutes at a times, however he was able to be placed on the rocking bed and respirator for a few days last summer. Many courtesies had been extended Danna by his friends in Milam and McLennan counties. He was a big favorite among the nurses at the Waco hospital. He celebrated his eighth birthday while there and received state publicity because he had won the hearts of the newspaper reporters that had visited him while he was a polio patient. He developed a cold a few weeks ago which was believed to have weakened his condition, however the last report from the hospital indicated he was some better. Funeral services were scheduled at 2:30 p. m. at the Yarrellton Baptist church with Rev. Bob Scarborough, pastor conducting. Interment in the North Elm Cemetery with Marek-Burns funeral directors in charge. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Barbee Barrett; one brother, Norvell Barrett all of Marak; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. C. B. Barrett of Buckholts and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fuchs of Buckholts. Pallbearers were Kermitt Fuller, Hilliard Thomas, Robert Jungman, Bob Bailey, Auttis Franklin and Rodney Barker. The Cameron Herald, 12 Feb 1953

FUNERAL SERVICES HELD FOR DANA BARRETT, VICTIM OF POLIO Danna Barrett, eight year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Barbee Barrett, died at the Waco Childrens Hospital Friday morning, Feb. 6, 1953. He had been a polio patient at the hospital since May 2, 1952. Danna was attending school at Ada Henderson school when he was stricken last spring. He was in the second grade. Danna was born Aug. 15, 1944 and has lived with his parents in the Marak community most of his life. His mother is the former Florine Fuchs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fuchs of Buckholts. During the time he was in the hospital, he was never able to leave the iron lung for more than a few minutes at a times, however he was able to be placed on the rocking bed and respirator for a few days last summer. Many courtesies had been extended Danna by his friends in Milam and McLennan counties. He was a big favorite among the nurses at the Waco hospital. He celebrated his eighth birthday while there and received state publicity because he had won the hearts of the newspaper reporters that had visited him while he was a polio patient. He developed a cold a few weeks ago which was believed to have weakened his condition, however the last report from the hospital indicated he was some better. Funeral services were scheduled at 2:30 p. m. at the Yarrellton Baptist church with Rev. Bob Scarborough, pastor conducting. Interment in the North Elm Cemetery with Marek-Burns funeral directors in charge. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Barbee Barrett; one brother, Norvell Barrett all of Marak; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. C. B. Barrett of Buckholts and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fuchs of Buckholts. Pallbearers were Kermitt Fuller, Hilliard Thomas, Robert Jungman, Bob Bailey, Auttis Franklin and Rodney Barker. The Cameron Herald, 12 Feb 1953

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