No scars or pain remain from the burns of a Dec. 23, 2008, fire that destroyed Teddy Olson’s home — at least on the outside.
But the pain inside is hard to heal. Teddy’s mother, 41-year-old Princess Lorraine “Patty” McCurry, died in the 4:30 a.m. inferno.
“When you lose someone like I have, it’s going to hurt a couple of years,” he said. “But I have to move on. Sometimes I think about it and sometimes not. It’s hard to move on. It still hurts, but so far, I’m doing pretty good.”
The fire is believed to have started in a wood-burning stove used to heat the mobile home on West Schoolhouse Road in Salem. After smelling smoke, Teddy’s stepfather, Richard McCurry, 61, tried unsuccessfully to awaken his wife. He then awakened Teddy, who ran to a neighbor’s house to call for help.
Teddy and McCurry tried three times to reenter the burning structure in a vain attempt to rescue Patty. On the third try, the ceiling of the mobile home gave way. The burning ceiling and beams burned Teddy’s back, neck and the top of his head, forehead, nose and ears, resulting in second- and third-degree burns over 30 percent of his body. McCurry suffered a severely burned shoulder and smoke inhalation.
Teddy and his stepfather spent about two weeks in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital Burn Unit.
Teddy’s friends held fundraisers for him and he was able to get a replacement mobile home, which sits behind his grandparents’ Lauderdale County home, and he holds down a job at Walmart.
Teddy, 19, was earlier this month recognized by the North Alabama Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities with its Excellence Award for Limestone County. In 2008, he was recognized with the organization’s Employee of the Year Award.
Also burned in the fire along with Teddy and his stepfather was his chocolate lab, Jacques. The dog was burned severely on his back, paws, head and front legs when he tried to enter the burning home and the porch collapsed on him.
Jacques spent weeks at The Dog Pound being treated by Dr. Robert Pitmen, having four surgeries and daily baths to remove dead skin from the burned areas. For a time it looked as though Jacques would have to be put up for adoption if Teddy was unable to care for him.
After Teddy was released from the burn unit, his grandparents, Richard and Linda Parr, took their grandson to live with them near Rogersville.
“My grandparents have been very helpful,” said Teddy. “They took me straight home after the burn unit. All the people that did the benefit were just wonderful and I just want to give them a big thank-you for all of their hard work.”
And a big part of Teddy’s recovery is that he got Jacques back.
“When I first saw Jacques he came straight to me,” said Teddy.
Teddy is proud of his new one-bedroom mobile home. He keeps his awards prominently displayed on his walls and he keeps three votive candles burning on the dresser in his bedroom in memory of his mother.
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Teddy Olson trying to move on after death of his mother in fire
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