SIOUX CITY, IA -
Sometimes to help a person heal, you only need a few toys.
At Sioux City's Mercy Medical Center, working in a room that looks more like a playhouse than a hospital is where you'll find our next KMEG 14 Hometown Hero.
Inside Sioux City's Mercy Medical Center you'll find a Physical Therapist doing her dream job.
"I play all day! I get paid to play with kids all day long," says Sandra Burns, a Physical Therapist, and KMEG 14 Hometown Hero.
Sandra Burns helps children beat problems like developmental delays and medical setbacks, using tools that make work time feel like play time.
"We can use swings and balls and games to help them kind of find their groove if they will," says Burns.
She's always doing whatever she can to help children achieve things they've been told they couldn't.
"Oh they're never going to walk, they're never going to do this, and we find it, and we do it, and it just makes your heart sing, it's so amazing," says Burns.
Children like Nolan; he's been working with Sandra to overcome a brain injury for about 2 years.
"We were told for a long time that, you know, there's a 50/50 chance he would be able to walk, crawl, sit, do something physical that a normal person would be able to do," says Amber Bowes, Nolan's Mother. "And Sandy just said, just leave it up to me, and I'll make it happen."
Now he's reaching his goals. Nolan's walking, running and having fun like any other kid.
"There's no telling where he'd be at today and I firmly believe 100% that Sandy is the reason that he is who he is today," says Bowes.
Sandra's reward is seeing those children succeed.
"Hearing the family say, you know, I never thought we would get here, or I never thought he would walk like that or I didn't know he could do that, those are the most amazing things," says Burns.
Sandra Burns is helping little ones overcome obstacles. It's a job that never feels like work.
When she's not at the hospital, Sandy also teaches classes, is a yoga instructor, and even finds the time to run a marathon every now and then.
