Southwest Airlines Employees Save Seeing Eye Dog’s Life

Banner is an extraordinary Yellow Lab. Not only is he Professional Speaker Larry Colbert’s guide dog, he is a hero to the entire National Speakers Association (NSA). When he was injured accidentally in a taxicab this past Friday, he kept doing his job, pushing though the pain and taking care of his beloved master. We love you Banner!

2,500 speakers were just returning from our National Convention when we heard of Larry and Banner’s plight. I got a call from Larry’s friend Steve Tyra that Banner had been hurt and could I please get the word out to everyone? Our whole community began to respond with prayers and offers of assistance. Over the weekend we got the full story.

As you read this, please keep in mind that the Southwest employees in question did not know Larry was flying on their airline that day. There are dozens of airlines in Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

All they knew was this: a dog is bleeding, a man and his guide dog need help, we can help.

All I can say is bravo Southwest Airlines for being the kind of company that empowers it’s employees to do the right thing!

Here’s a brief description of the event as written by Sandy DeNeui
(Larry’s girlfriend extraordinaire…)
- – - – - – - – -

Yesterday, Friday the 13th came with more than one miracle for Larry and his
guide dog Banner. Larry and Banner were on their way to a speaking
engagement in Nevada. Larry took a cab from his house to Sky Harbor.

Somehow, and that looms as the huge unanswered question, Banner received a
gash in his leg while riding in the back seat of the cab. Larry said that
Banner yelped and jumped from the floor boards onto the seat shortly before
they arrived at the airport. This was highly unusual because Banner is
extremely well trained, but since Larry cannot see, he didn’t realize that
Banner was injured, so he got his bag and holding Banner’s harness,
proceeded into the airport.

Larry said that Banner just led him along as if nothing was wrong…. then a
man (Phx airport security), stopped them and asked if he could help. I guess
that is when the urgency of the situation came to light.

Later, Troy (South West Customer Service), the young man who saved Banner’s
life, told me that Banner would most certainly have gotten Larry to the
airplane and bled to death in the process if someone had not intervened. But
the ground crew employees of South West Airlines took it upon themselves to
change Banner’s fate.

Larry telephoned me and said… “I need your help, Banner is hurt.” I knew
by the sound of his voice that this was a real emergency. I blasted out of
the house and across town to the airport. On the way I telephoned the vet’s
office to alert them that we would be coming in…. and carried an on going
conversation with Larry and one of the South West Airline employees. When I
finally arrived a police car with emergency lights on had cleared a place
for me to park…. a walkway had been cleared through the throng of
onlookers…. Banner was on the floor with Larry beside him, and eight or
ten uniformed people some kneeling some crouching were gathered around
Banner, who was in great distress.

Larry was splattered in blood from his waist down, there was blood
everywhere and on everyone. Troy lifted Banner and carried him to the car. I
didn’t realize it at the time, but Troy’s hand was clenched around Banner’s
leg to stop the flow of blood. Banner, Troy and Larry got in the back seat
of my car and away we went. When we arrived at the vet’s three young women
emerged with a stretcher and rolls of tape. They wrapped the leg right
there, so that Troy could release his grip, but Troy who by then was like a
family member, carried Banner inside, sans stretcher.

Banner underwent surgery almost immediately. He had sliced the major vein to
his leg and nicked an artery, and those employees of South West Airlines who
left their posts to render aid quite simply kept Banner alive until Dr.
Bastek could work her magic. Troy told me many hours later that he was still
in shock from the whole experience…. and that he felt a bond with Banner
and Larry that he didn’t want to lose track of.

Larry took a later flight to Las Vegas for his speaking engagement. He said
that the legend of Banner preceded him and that every South West employee he
met along the way asked about Banner (who is recovering nicely).

All in all, it was a Friday the Thirteenth to remember… and a time to
realize that there are everyday people out there just waiting to be heroes.
I saw dozens of heroes yesterday. I am attaching a photo of Banner that was
taken just this evening at Larry’s house.

I had the honor of having Banner stay with me here in Mesa after being
released from the hospital. Larry managed just fine with his “white stick”
on his engagement in Nevada. He said he missed the freedom that Banner
allows him, and of course was worried about Banner too. The South West
Airline employees sent Banner the flowers and balloon in the photo as a get
well gift. I think he really liked it! What a weekend! Those employees were
more than heroes….. they were angels in disguise.

“It takes action to achieve vision!”
Larry C. Colbert, Speaker & Author
Check out Larry’s new video!

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