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Through Love and Humor Zachary Sutterfield Survives Burns and Injuries

Photos by Craig Orsini

“I can let this tragedy define me, or I can define it,” said 20-yearold Zachary Sutterfield as he sat on a couch at the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) Fisher House in San Antonio.

Zachary was trapped in an apartment fire in San Marcos, Texas, on July 20, 2018. As a result, he had third-degree burns to over 70% of his body, endured a traumatic brain injury, lost all his fingers on one hand and all but two short digits on the other, lost an ear, and underwent 23 surgeries within the first six months of the fire. Zachary’s injuries were so severe the doctors gave him only a small chance of survival.

And, yet, in just talking to him on the phone, one would be hardpressed to know Zachary had been through such horrors. He has an infectious sense of humor, and his optimism is incredible.

“I think Zachary learned early how to adapt. He and his brother, Danny, are military brats and have lived in a lot of different places where they had to pick up and adjust to a new life,” said Zachary’s father, Karl Sutterfield, who retired from the Army after more than 20 years. Today, Karl teaches young service members at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, about a fourhour drive from BAMC.

Zachary can recount much of the early morning hours in 2018 when the San Marcos apartment complex, where he was staying with his two best friends, caught fire. He remembers waking Haley Frizzell and David Ortiz, and then losing them as they ran out the door. Neither survived. When Zachary caught fire, instinct took over, and he jumped out their second-story window to the courtyard below. Witnesses told him to drop and roll, and they used their clothes and anything they could find to put out the fire that engulfed him.

“I remember being helped to the ambulance,” said Zachary, “and saying to the medics, ‘Please knock me out,’” which they did. The next thing he remembers is being at BAMC’s world-renowned U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center, admitted as Karl’s dependent.

During the many months of arduous surgeries and rehabilitation, Zachary’s parents lived at the Fisher House, a place that Zachary’s mom, Deona “DJ” Sutterfield said, “was one of the greatest blessings I have ever had.” Zachary would stay at the Fisher House after he was released from the hospital too.

“The doctors kept telling us this was a marathon, not a sprint, and that we would be here a long time,” said DJ, who also served in the Army and National Guard as a medic. “Fact is, I would have slept in my truck if I had to. But, instead, we were blessed with a home, a place where I could cook Zachary’s favorite foods, do our laundry, even grill out back. But mostly it was a place where I met friends. These were people like us, going through hardships that seemed unimaginable. We were there for each other in the Fisher House.”

People are amazed to see Zach now and see what BAMC did for him—from the skin grafts to the multiple surgeries to the “eating cuffs.” He remembers being in rehab one day and crying. He was an English major and thought he would never write again. One of the nurses told him not to worry and fixed his hand with a special cuff so he could print, and he says his writing is better than ever.

“The staff here at the hospital have been like angels,” Zach said. “But what truly saved me was having my mom and dad here. There were times when me and my mom cried together and screamed together—even more times when we laughed together and found some solace and peace in humor. She would tell me, ‘Yes, this happened, but you will still get to play with your kids one day; you can still cook in the kitchen like you always did. Sure, it’s going to be harder, but you still get to do those things.’ My mom saved me as much as the doctors.”

Zach must eat 6,000 calories a day as his body fights to heal. “It’s awesome,” said Zach. Laughing, DJ quickly followed, “that’s why having a kitchen allows me to cook the food that he’s used to. Being able to cook together is a big thing for our family. Fisher House lets that happen. Fisher House gives us normalcy, and I can’t tell you how important that is for all of our healing.”

A day in the life of Zachary involves a full schedule of appointments that begin early in the morning. Rehab consists of strengthening and balance exercises, as well as stretching, which, according to Zach, is by far the most painful. He has traumaticbrain-injury therapy, and checkups with the burn doctors, neurologists and psychiatrists. Then he comes “home,” where mom helps with wound care, and they both fix dinner together. Zachary has started classes online with Texas State University to pursue his major in English. His goal is to teach one day.

He has a new four-legged therapist, whom he met for the first time in March. His name is Sketch, a Labradoodle (“Get it, Sketch,” Zach laughed), who is currently being trained as Zach’s service dog.

Thanks to Zachary’s spirit and having his family by his side, he continues to make strides. His father has a wish for Zachary’s future: “I hope one day Zach walks out of the Fisher House and BAMC and changes the world.”

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