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Dancing Granny Performs for ‘Healthcare Heroes’ Who Saved Her After Waukesha Christmas Parade Attack | “Tears of Joy”
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Dancing Granny Performs for ‘Healthcare Heroes’ Who Saved Her After Waukesha Christmas Parade Attack | “Tears of Joy”

Dr. Christopher Sarkiss, her neurosurgeon, cheered loudly in the crowd during the performance.

Cover Image Source: Facebook | Milwaukee Dancing Grannies

62-year-old Betty Streng suffered a skull fracture and brain bleed during the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack. The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies dance troupe was performing in the Waukesha Christmas Parade when Darrell Brooks drove an SUV into the parade route in  November 2021. He has since been found guilty in the attack that killed six people and injured at least 48 others, according to The Washington Post.

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Streng was among the injured and was rushed to the hospital where neurosurgeon Dr Christopher Sarkiss performed an emergency craniotomy. The elderly woman suffered from Greenfield severe injuries including traumatic brain injury and multiple skull fractures. The member of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies dance troupe gave a special performance for her doctors and nurses at Aurora St Luke’s Medical Center. The medical staff is amazed that she's back to dancing. The performance was an emotional one. “It’s tears of joy,” Streng said, according to TMJ4. “The fact that I can be here to honor all the healthcare heroes who helped me, and that all my Dancing Grannies took time off work to do it with me is a blessing.”

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Streng was discharged from the hospital two weeks after the deadly attack, and she is incredibly grateful to the medical staff who helped save her life. She underwent months of physical therapy and rehabilitation to get to where she is today. “The fact that I’m here walking, talking, and dancing, proves Dr. Sarkiss does very good work,” Streng said. “I’m very thankful for him, and everyone who helped me recover.” they all stood on the sidewalk through the parking lot of Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center to watch the Grannies perform. “It’s amazing to see her today, doing what she does best,” said her neurosurgeon, Dr. Christopher Sarkiss, who cheered loudly in the crowd. “By God’s grace she was brought to us that night in the knick of time, and we were able to help her and get her through it.”

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The dance group paid tribute to members of the Dancing Grannies who didn’t survive the parade attack including 79-year-old Virginia ‘Ginny’ Sorenson, the group’s founder and choreographer. Other teammates included: LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81. “They died doing what they love,” Streng said. “How can we not keep dancing for them? They would want us to be here.”

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References:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/10/26/waukesha-christmas-parade-darrell-brooks/

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https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/dancing-granny-injured-in-waukesha-christmas-parade-attack-performs-for-caregivers-that-saved-her-life

Cover Image Source: Facebook | Milwaukee Dancing Grannies

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