DALLAS — "I heard I got hit by a pickup truck by a drunk driver," said Kenneth Burke.
It happened on December 4, 2023, but Burke has no memory of it. "I don't remember anything from the accident."
The off-duty Dallas firefighter was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a drunk driver and then ran over.
Burke suffered hemorrhagic shock and injuries to his head, spleen, pancreas, and liver. He had two surgeries. And just before Christmas, Burke woke up from an induced coma in the hospital.
"I wake up and I see all this chaos around me, and people are trying to explain stuff to me. Hey man, you're in the hospital, you know. And nothing makes sense," he said.
He woke up with tubes down his throat and scars on his body.
"It's horrific," he said. But Burke is grateful for all the people who have been there to support him.
His family and friends stayed by his bedside, while his fellow firefighters visited often. Burke is grateful for the care he's received at the hospital.
"My guys [at Dallas Fire Rescue] saved my life. My own job saved my life," he said with a smile.
He's used to being the first responder and didn't expect to be the one being saved.
Now in rehabilitation, Burke is slowly walking on his own and eager to feel like his old self. He is expected to be discharged next week.
On Saturday, January 13th at 7:00 pm at Trees Dallas at 2709 Elm Street, a benefit concert is being held to help raise money for Burke to pay for these unexpected medical bills. It's being planned by his friends, and sponsored by the Krodle Foundation, a nonprofit organization started by firefighters. The Krodle Foundation will match the first $5,000 donated.
Burke said, "I never asked for all this help, but everyone's coming out and helping me and I'm blessed and thankful. I have a debt that I don't know if I'll ever pay back, but I'm going to try."