Oct 23, 2015 5 min read

Dean “Burrito” Gillum’s parents, Paul and Laura, had several decisions to make after the toddler died Aug. 5, days after he was found unconscious in the family swimming pool behind their Canonsburg home.

Perhaps the most generous decision they made was to donate Burrito’s organs.

As a result, three people received life-saving transplants.

The 23-month-old’s heart went to a 6-month-old boy in South Carolina; his liver went to a 1-year-old Florida boy; and a 66-year-old woman received his kidneys.

On the day Burrito died, Laura Gillum said, four other children were at Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh, as a result of drowning or near-drowning incidents.

And while cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed by Gillum and the paramedics who arrived at the home could not revive Burrito, CPR has saved other children and adults involved in accidents or medical emergencies.

In conversations with family and friends in the days following the accident, Gillum said she was surprised at how many did not how to perform CPR and basic first aid.

That’s why Gillum decided to start Breathing for Burrito, a nonprofit organization working to bring basic lifesaving skills training to the public.

Gillum is advocating that all people learn CPR so that they might be able to save a loved one during an emergency.

The class, called The HOPE Course, will be taught by instructors from Lifesaver Training Institute, a Southpointe company that offers CPR/AED, first aid and safety training.

Participants will learn adult, child and infant CPR, AED use, and how to help someone who’s choking.

The first class will be held at 4 p.m. Nov. 14 at the armory in Canonsburg, and Gillum hopes to offer the course twice a month.

Through a website, breathing-for-burrito.org, Gillum is selling T-shirts and sweatshirts to raise money so that the CPR classes can be offered at no cost. More apparel sold means more people can attend the course.

Donations to Breathing for Burrito are also welcome online or at the door, Gillum said.

“I know how to do CPR, but I couldn’t save Burrito. I know that if I wouldn’t have known how to do CPR on Dean and hadn’t tried to save him, I would never have been able to forgive myself,” said Gillum, who was an emergency medical technician in the U.S. Air Force. “I found out that most people I know do not know CPR. This fundraiser is to pay for as many people as we can to get certified. I would like as many people as possible to learn how to do this. whether it’s helping an infant choking or an elderly person having a diabetic episode. When your loved one is in dire need, it’s fight or flight, you need to be prepared.”

Joe Shively, owner of Lifesaver Training Institute, said he had always wanted to offer a community CPR class and jumped on board immediately when Gillum approached him.

“I think it’s an awesome idea. She had the idea and the location, and we have the instructiors and equipment. It’s what we do every day,” said Shively, noting that CPR can double or triple chances of survival during cardiac arrest. “I’m glad we joined together. This class entails basic CPR, and it gives people the knowledge and hands-on practice and experience with mannequins.”

The class is a non-certification class.

Gillum and Shively want to reach people who either would not normally consider taking a CPR class or who cannot afford the cost of a typical course.

“A lot of times, people don’t want to pay for a class they’re not required to take. As far as offering it at no cost, it’s a great idea,” said Shively. “I think this is a great avenue for her to remember her son, and I think for her, knowing that this could save a lot of people over time, is important. I’m glad we’re able to help her move forward and hopefully we can help her grow it,” said Shively.

Ultimately, Gillum doesn’t want what happened to her son to happen to one more child.

And she doesn’t want a single person to die because someone who was in a position to help did not know how to perform CPR.

“Burrito’s drowning was a horrible, horrible accident but he would want something good to come from it. He was that special little boy. He’s already helped three people with his organs,” said Gillum, who said grief counseling and the support of family and friends have helped her and Paul cope. “This has been so difficult, sometimes it’s overwhelming. But if we can save just one person’s life with these classes, we will have done something worthwhile.”

To sign up for the CPR class, order a T-shirt or swea shirt, or make a tax-free donation, visit www.breathing-for-burrito.org. All proceeds go toward getting as many people trained in life-saving CPR as possible.