Oilton woman attacked by pit bulls returns home from hospital

For a month Della Mae Parker has been at St. Francis Hospital recovering from a vicious dog attack near her home in Oilton. <br><br>News on Six reporter Rick Wells was on hand Wednesday when she checked

Wednesday, November 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

For a month Della Mae Parker has been at St. Francis Hospital recovering from a vicious dog attack near her home in Oilton.

News on Six reporter Rick Wells was on hand Wednesday when she checked out and headed for home looking forward to fresh air and sunshine. Della Mae Parker, "I haven't breathed any fresh air in one month."

She's been at St. Francis hospital struggling to get her life back together, after three pit bulls nearly ended it on the 7th of October. The dogs have been destroyed but the gashes on her left arm still have some healing to do, and her reconstructed right leg requires a brace. "When all the skin grafts heal, then I'll befitted for a brace, a hard plastic, which I will wear the rest of my life." After three surgeries on her leg dozens of stitches in her arm and hours of rehab she finally is headed for home. "This place has been great but I'm ready to leave."

The first steps outside the hospital were a bit tentative; rehab probably doesn't include instruction on getting into the car. "Yea, I'm in here I can do that." Then it's off to Oilton, and the home she's lived in for nearly fifty years. "This is the most beautiful sight in the world."

A family friend who was driving by stopped to welcome her home. "Glad you're back â€œ Parker, "Me too." Friend, "We'll get you a fence up." The fence he's talking about would be to keep the dogs like this one across the street out of her yard; she says she's had enough dogs.

She acknowledges she fortunate to be alive, and her friends say her positive outlook is the reason she's doing so well. "I'm home." Daughter, â€œMama, I don't clean house like you do." Parker, "Hey, I've found out maybe a few things more important than a spotless house, you bet.â€

Wonâ€™t be long she'll be in that porch swing getting more of that fresh air and sunshine.