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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, April Lopez of McAllen demonstrated remarkable |
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| 6 | 7 | | decisiveness and composure on February 17, 2015, when she came to |
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| 7 | 8 | | the aid of a man experiencing a medical emergency; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, A board certified nurse practitioner, Ms. Lopez has |
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| 9 | 10 | | spent 17 years as a registered nurse in both emergency rooms and |
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| 10 | 11 | | private practice; she currently works at Lopez Family Clinic in |
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| 11 | 12 | | McAllen, and she also teaches at her alma mater, The University of |
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| 12 | 13 | | Texas--Pan American; and |
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| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Lopez was aboard a flight bound for McAllen from |
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| 14 | 15 | | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and shortly after |
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| 15 | 16 | | takeoff, the captain began calling for a bystander with medical |
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| 16 | 17 | | experience to help assist a male passenger who was sweating and in |
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| 17 | 18 | | obvious physical distress; Ms. Lopez responded immediately, and |
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| 18 | 19 | | the man informed her that he had cirrhosis, a condition that can be |
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| 19 | 20 | | life-threatening in advanced stages; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, With his condition worsening rapidly, Ms. Lopez |
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| 21 | 22 | | requested that the plane be landed and enlisted the help of two |
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| 22 | 23 | | other passengers to move him to a seat where she could begin |
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| 23 | 24 | | rendering aid; she injected him with intravenous fluids and readied |
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| 24 | 25 | | the plane's defibrillator to ensure that the man did not suffer |
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| 25 | 26 | | cardiac arrest; throughout this harrowing ordeal, Ms. Lopez |
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| 26 | 27 | | reassured him with her steady manner and the confidence that she had |
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| 27 | 28 | | developed during her career; the plane eventually touched down in |
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| 28 | 29 | | Austin, where emergency crews were waiting to rush the man to the |
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| 29 | 30 | | hospital for treatment; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, By taking charge of a desperate situation, April |
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| 31 | 32 | | Lopez distinguished herself as a caring citizen and a professional |
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| 32 | 33 | | of outstanding skill and commitment, and her actions on that day are |
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| 33 | 34 | | indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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| 34 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 35 | 36 | | Legislature hereby commend April Lopez for her heroism in providing |
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| 36 | 37 | | lifesaving assistance to a fellow traveler in need and extend to her |
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| 37 | 38 | | sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 39 | 40 | | prepared for Ms. Lopez as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 40 | 41 | | House of Representatives. |
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