My son's need for healing severe burns

[Dizneydawn]

Prayers for Baylor

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Hi all,

I come to you today asking for prayers and all positive thoughts for my son Baylor.

He was at a friends house Halloween afternoon (they did not have school that day) following a sleepover the night before. Thursday evening they had had a bon fire in a fire pit and the next day when the mom left for work, the boys were given instructions to stay away from the fire pit. 3 thirteen year old boys do not listen well at anytime, they went down to it and the boy who lives at the house...decided to pour gasoline on the embers...trying to relight wood still left in the pit...

It flashed back towards him..he got scared...dropped the "bowl" of gas he held...and it flew all over Baylor who was standing to his right. The flame followed the gas and Baylors left leg started on fire...

He had jeans on and the fire actually went up under his pant leg. Baylor tried to pat it out with his left hand..then tried to roll it out and when that did not work...he jumped in a pool that was 10 yards away with water thank God still in it.

Over the next 1/2 hour the boys put him in a bathtub..called a neighbor who was a registered nurse and then I got the call...I was 1/2 hour away (they live out in the country) and in route...the neighbor let me know it was pretty bad..

We had an ambulance called and brought him to Regions Hospital in St. Paul which has one of the best burn centers in the United States.

Baylor did not cry that day exept when he was told he would not be playing hockey anytime soon and to miss trick or treating. They said he had severe 2nd degree burns and should heal on his own with no skin grafting. - He was so brave even in the bathtub that he had began to debris his own leg..cuting away loose skin. I think he was also in shock.

We were given state of the art silver patches that heal burns on his leg and silvadine cream for his burns on his hand that were not as deep. He was given the option to go home or stay. He wanted to go home.

Saturday morning he felt good - too good - but by afternoon the burns started to set in and yesterday we went back for a follow up.

When they unwrapped him it was obvious that he sustained some 3rd degree burns as well around his ankle - it looks like the gas pooled at the shoe line.

They are now not sure about skin grafting - they want to give it a week or 2 to see what his body can do on it's own. I have never seen that boy cry in my life as he did yesterday and today form the pain and the dvestation or realizing how bad it is. He has no skin left from the top of his foot/ankle to just below his knee cap on the front of his leg and the burn goes around the back as well... to mid calf.

They want him to excersize the foot an dleg so it does not stiffen while it heals and he just sits and screams from the pain whenever his leg even dangles downwards.

I am waiting a call from the docs again to decide if they want him to go inpatient at this point.

It is round the clock care right now and I am just trying to get as many book parties for Tupperware as I can so I can stay at home with him. I don't think I could leave him now if I wanted to. This is the hardest thing I think I have ever faced as a parent.

They doc's know about the trip and as of now...think he will be able to go - even if he needs grafting...

They say it will be a good motivator for him...now I just need to decide what to do about the trip....do I tell him about it and have him be involved in the planning - get him in on it to suprise the other 2 - or not tell him?

I am worried if we have to delay the trip he will be devestated and feel guilty...

Anyway - please pray for him...I need a miracle now more than ever in my life...and so does he...

This is one of my favorte pics of him

Thanks -

 

[lisah0711]

Hugs and prayers for your son and your family.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Hugs and prayers for your son and your family.

Thank you for the support

 

[frdeb1999]

Thoughts and prayers heading your way.

 

[safetymom]

Sending healing prayers for your son. My son was severly burned several years ago. He had second degree burns on his arm, chest, face. You can hardly tell now.

Just try to take it moments at a time. I know we hate to see our children in pain.

 

[kimis]

Oh bless your heart. My thoughts and prayers are with him and the rest of the family. Keep us posted!

 

[quasar4legs]

I shall keep Baylor and your family in my thoughts, what a terrible time for you all. Watching our children in pain is a terrible thing for any parent.

Sending you a big Koala cuddle from down under.

Trish

 

[karen l]

I'll remember Baylor in my prayers - I hope & pray his recovery is swift. Thank God he stayed calm enough to jump in the pool of water. I hope you're able to make the trip & have a fantastic time. When you have a chance, please try to let us know how he's progressing.

 

[Elfstar]

Keeping Baylor, you and your family in our prayers. Keep a positive attitude and encourage Baylor to, also. I worked for a plastic and reconstructive surgeon for 13 years - it is miraculous what the body can do to repair itself. It is important that the joint be kept moving but they should give him something for the pain if they haven't already. Even if he needs grafting, his injuries could have been much worse. Please let us know how he progresses.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Thoughts and prayers heading your way.

Thank you so much...

Sending healing prayers for your son. My son was severly burned several years ago. He had second degree burns on his arm, chest, face. You can hardly tell now.

Just try to take it moments at a time. I know we hate to see our children in pain.

Thank you for saying that...it looks so awful right now..my biggest concern is the 3rd degree areas...I hope they begin to heal on their own...

Oh bless your heart. My thoughts and prayers are with him and the rest of the family. Keep us posted!

I will...please feel free to read my PTR linked in my signature - it gives you a little look into our family - and Baylor's wit...his good nature will help us all get through this...

I shall keep Baylor and your family in my thoughts, what a terrible time for you all. Watching our children in pain is a terrible thing for any parent.

Sending you a big Koala cuddle from down under.

Trish

Ohh thanks...Baylor would love to visit Australia some day...he actually was just talking about that yesterday that that is his dream vacation...

I'll remember Baylor in my prayers - I hope & pray his recovery is swift. Thank God he stayed calm enough to jump in the pool of water. I hope you're able to make the trip & have a fantastic time. When you have a chance, please try to let us know how he's progressing.

We have to make it - I agree that his being calm saved him more severe burns...such a blessing really..

Keeping Baylor, you and your family in our prayers. Keep a positive attitude and encourage Baylor to, also. I worked for a plastic and reconstructive surgeon for 13 years - it is miraculous what the body can do to repair itself. It is important that the joint be kept moving but they should give him something for the pain if they haven't already. Even if he needs grafting, his injuries could have been much worse. Please let us know how he progresses.

Again...sooo true...he is on pain med - oxycodone with acetominaphine (sp???) and it helps a lot but not all gone which he thinks he should get with it...so trying to help him accept the pain is hard...I think he thought it would be a quicker recovery than it has been...

 

[CarolynU]

Oh my goodness what a tragic story. You are all in my thoughts. Teenage boys are just that teengage boys. They think that they are invincible as we all did at that age. Keep your spirits up, and I do hope that the pain subsides soon.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Okay - so I have internet at the hospital and am gratefull to let you all know what is going on...

Baylor's leg started oozing today through the bandages and so we headed to the burn unit again to get re-bandaged....

The look of the nurses face was enough to say it all when she unwrapped his leg...

The doc came in and confirmed it was "not going in the right diretion" and thus the need for surgery tom at 11am

He wil have skin taken from his upper thigh and it will be taken off in several layers so they can use it in sheets to cover his whole burn area on his leg.

When Chad was burned in 1990 they put his skin through a mesh like siv in order to stretch it and that created a waffle pattern on his grafted skin..

Baylor's will not have that look...simple sheets of skin...but they will graft the whole burnt area....not just the few spots of 3rd degree because it would create more of an odd pattern on his leg to have some grafted, some new growth and his original skin...

This way it will only have a fine, white, line like a surgical incession for a scar and that will just be on the outer edges where they attach the graft...

From what I understand the donor site will be very painful..takes 10 -14 days to heal...leg should be okay in about 2 weeks as well...

He will have to wear compression socks on his leg for about a year to make sure the skin strengthens...no contact sports for many months...so no phy ed...no snowboarding and no hockey..but maybe soccer this late spring...summertime...

Literally it will be a year of progress before this is going to be mended...he will be here in the hospital for at least 5-7 days...laying still for at least 4...no flowers or live plants on this floor...we are seeing some kids with their whole heads wrapped...so he is understanding how "fortunate" (his word choice) he is....

Pastor was here earlier...I think that helped Baylor more than anything...

 

[courtnvm]

I sit here with tears streaming down my face for you and your son. My husband was severly burnt in a house fire about 4 years ago. He had 2 skin graft surgeries on his arm and hand. While it was not my child that went through this, my heart aches for you and your family.

You, your son, and your family will be in our prayers. From what I have experienced, and from what my husband has told me, the graft donor site is the worst of the pain, once the surgery was done.

If I could give you one bit of advice. Please get your son counseling because of this. We have just started it for my husband, and I kick myself all of the time because we didn't do it earlier. He still, over 4 years later, wakes up in middle of the night screaming that his arm is on fire. He doesn't always remember it, but I hear him almost every night.

Please, if there is anything that you need, let me know.

 

[twinklebug]

for Baylor...

Your pic of him reminds me of my 11yo... and the story of him standing by watching his friend do something dumb (but not doing it himself!) is exactly what my little guy would have been doing. Oiy. as they say - boys will be boys. What can we do?

You seem to be doing a great job putting up a brave front for him

Hoping for a great recovery and that he's up running around with the soccer ball around June.

 

[Dizneydawn]

I sit here with tears streaming down my face for you and your son. My husband was severly burnt in a house fire about 4 years ago. He had 2 skin graft surgeries on his arm and hand. While it was not my child that went through this, my heart aches for you and your family.

You, your son, and your family will be in our prayers. From what I have experienced, and from what my husband has told me, the graft donor site is the worst of the pain, once the surgery was done.

If I could give you one bit of advice. Please get your son counseling because of this. We have just started it for my husband, and I kick myself all of the time because we didn't do it earlier. He still, over 4 years later, wakes up in middle of the night screaming that his arm is on fire. He doesn't always remember it, but I hear him almost every night.

Please, if there is anything that you need, let me know.

Hi - great advice - I think he will need some as well...had some bad dreams already and is definetley feeling depressed about all he will miss out on...that is the biggest reason I want this trip to go on as planned...he needs something to look forward to...

I am glad your husband healed well...can I ask how his accident happened?

for Baylor...

Your pic of him reminds me of my 11yo... and the story of him standing by watching his friend do something dumb (but not doing it himself!) is exactly what my little guy would have been doing. Oiy. as they say - boys will be boys. What can we do?

You seem to be doing a great job putting up a brave front for him

Hoping for a great recovery and that he's up running around with the soccer ball around June.

You are so wise about boys...I think that is the most frusterating for me...he stood by and was hurt the worst...but like I told him toaday...God gives you taps on the shoulder and then when you don;t listen he hits ya with a shovel to make sure you do...it's his mission now to figure out what he wasn't listening to before...maybe homework being important....maybe not taking family for granted...who knows...but it is a teaching moment....

If anyone would be willing to send postcards to him from where you live...I think that would be a great way to give him something to look forward to...getting mail...seing on a map where it came from...he loves travel and is interested in many of the states...

Pm me if you would be willing to do that and I will give you his address...

Thanks again for the support you all have given...

I will let you know how he is after surgery...

 

[CathrynRose]

Oh no, oh no, oh no!!!

Thinking of you and Baylor.

 

[tlens]

I'm so very sorry that your son is having to endure this.

 

[momrek06]

OP, omg... Op, I am crying for you and for Baylor.

OP, something similiar to this happened to my now 26yo son in 1997(15yo). He was camping with buddies. They started a fire to keep the bugs away. Then they decided to toss a football around. My DS reached up in the air for the football and coming down he fell across the fire. His leg went up in flames. Thankfully he had on jean shorts and not the mesh ones the other boys were wearing. The boys had him rolling in all the leaves and the brush of the campsite. Thank God, they were very close to the main gate for the camp. They threw Chris in the car and raced to the main gate. He was then taken by ambulance to the hospital. To get that call that he was in a fire, I could not comprehend what the personel at the main gate were saying...it was like I froze. He was in the hospital for days. No surgery for him, though. He was laid up for weeks. After the hospital, we were sent home with Visiting Nurses to change all the dressings. Our Parish Priest came many times to pray. He was out of it on vicodine for the longest time. He had to learn to walk all over again. I did not sleep for weeks. Everyone in my town was so supportive when word got out about the accident.

He as well was fitted for the leg brace to wear. It was this black stocking. But it was custom fit by specialists dealing with burn victims.

Prayers for you and your family at this time. I can remember I could not sleep or eat at all, I was devastated YET I had the energy to be there for him 24/7. It was like I required no sleep or food. I sat with him alllll the time whether he was awake or asleep.

Keep us updated.

What is going on with the other boys involved? I remember Chris' friends were sickened by this, witnessing it all and seeing him in the hospital and in pain. They came by DAILY. They were as devastated as we were. It was so upsetting for everyone.

 

[ms1031]

I'm wishing Baylor a quick and easy recovery.

Years ago, a nephew (about 16yo at the time), had a bonfire in his backyard with his friends. The next morning, his little brother (5yo nephew) and a cousin (5yo niece) were poking around in the embers. My little nephew then went to the garage and got the gas can. As he began pouring gas on the embers, flames shot up to the can which then exploded. He almost lost his hand.

 

[safetymom]

OP, omg... Op, I am crying for you and for Baylor.

OP, something similiar to this happened to my now 26yo son in 1997(15yo). He was camping with buddies. They started a fire to keep the bugs away. Then they decided to toss a football around. My DS reached up in the air for the football and coming down he fell across the fire. His leg went up in flames. Thankfully he had on jean shorts and not the mesh ones the other boys were wearing. The boys had him rolling in all the leaves and the brush of the campsite. Thank God, they were very close to the main gate for the camp. They threw Chris in the car and raced to the main gate. He was then taken by ambulance to the hospital. To get that call that he was in a fire, I could not comprehend what the personel at the main gate were saying...it was like I froze. He was in the hospital for days. No surgery for him, though. He was laid up for weeks. After the hospital, we were sent home with Visiting Nurses to change all the dressings. Our Parish Priest came many times to pray. He was out of it on vicodine for the longest time. He had to learn to walk all over again. I did not sleep for weeks. Everyone in my town was so supportive when word got out about the accident.

He as well was fitted for the leg brace to wear. It was this black stocking. But it was custom fit by specialists dealing with burn victims.

Prayers for you and your family at this time. I can remember I could not sleep or eat at all, I was devastated YET I had the energy to be there for him 24/7. It was like I required no sleep or food. I sat with him alllll the time whether he was awake or asleep.

Keep us updated.

What is going on with the other boys involved? I remember Chris' friends were sickened by this, witnessing it all and seeing him in the hospital and in pain. They came by DAILY. They were as devastated as we were. It was so upsetting for everyone.

When my son was burned I was in NYC on a business trip. My sons girlfriend called to say he was burned and they were talking of life flighting him to a hospital. I was stuck in the city till the next day. I did a lot of praying that night and day till I got home to see for myself how bad his burns were.

He was very lucky because he was wearing safety goggles when he was burned. He only had first degree burns on his face, but his chest and arms had second degree burns. Every so often I take a look at the pictures I took to remind how blessed we were when he healed.