Patient story.

Battling Back from 3rd degree burns 

Francis was only twelve years old when he was unfortunately caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. A homemade torch with added accelerant exploded on him as he was in the vicinity. Francis was sent to his local hospital, but clearly needed the expert services of a trauma center. An hour later, a team of 15 professionals at The Children’s was waiting for him. 

Francis suffered third degree burns over 35% of his body. He had to be put in an induced coma for 13 days. The injuries left scars all over his upper body. "We almost lost him three times,’’ his mother Céline explains. He stayed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for a whole month and then was transferred to the Advanced Care Unit for another two weeks. 

It was a long, sometimes sleepless month filled with physical pain, fear and mental anguish. His numerous skin grafts were completed with laser precision and speed, mitigating pain whenever possible. 

Francis is now 17 years old. He remembers little of the trauma but remains extremely positive and mature about it. He wants to say a big thank you to donors and send a message of prevention;

“Never play with fire and stay away from those who do."