TRIBUTE TO DANA BYERLEY

TRIBUTE TO DANA BYERLEY

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2025)] [Senate] [Page S1426] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO DANA BYERLEY Mr. SCHMITT. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Officer Dana Byerley of Sparta, MO, for her timely and heroic act of service to save the life of an infant. The Short family welcomed their youngest daughter Bristol in July 2022. They soon discovered that she had cystic fibrosis (CF) and would need various medications every day to help her breathe and give her as normal a life as possible. The Short family is dedicated to creating as many life-giving memories as they can, so they attended the Persimmons Day Festival at the Roller Park in Sparta, MO, in October 2024. While at the festival, Bristol's mother Miranda noticed that her lips were turning blue and her body was going limp. They urgently searched for help among the crowd and reserve officer Dana Byerley quickly came to their aid. Officer Byerley performed mouth-to-mouth until Bristol was revived and the emergency medical services could arrive to bring her to the nearest hospital. The doctors and nurses at Mercy Hospital were able to attend to Bristol and treat her so she was well enough to travel to her CF hospital in Columbia, MO, where she remained and made a full recovery. Dana Byerley is truly a Champion of Missouri. Her willingness to help and quick thinking kept little Bristol alive; now, she is a thriving and happy toddler. I commend Officer Byerley for her service to her fellow Missourians and wish her all the best with the Sparta Police Department. ____________________