Wyatte’s Story: A Path to Confidence and Healing Beyond the Burn Injury

In a single, terrifying moment, Courtnie’s world quickly changed when her 18-month-old son sustained severe burn injuries from a campfire outside their home.

“An accelerant was used to start the fire, and the contents exploded onto Wyatte, leaving him severely burned,” Courtnie said. “We were living in northern Maine at the time. Wyatte was immediately stabilized at our local hospital, then airlifted for treatment at Shriners Children’s Boston.”

Wyatte’s care team when he first arrived at Shriners Children’s Boston was led by Robert L. Sheridan, M.D., chief of staff and director of the burn service. Faced with unimaginable fear and uncertainty, Courtnie found hope and healing in the wrap-around, specialized care Dr. Sheridan and his staff provided. “I will be forever grateful for the middle-of-the-night talks with Dr. Sheridan, who always had the very best intentions at heart for Wyatte,” said Courtnie. “Dr. Sheridan made sure we were always in the loop with Wyatte’s care plan and always remained open about the hard parts when unexpected infections happened. The consistency of Dr. Sheridan being the familiar face for Wyatte when he was an inpatient was so important.”

Beyond the medical care he received, Wyatte benefited from dedicated social and emotional support from Shriners Children’s Boston child life specialist Brooke Allen, MS, CCLS, who helped navigate the challenges of recovery with encouragement. “Brooke was a lifesaver from the beginning, when Wyatte was 18 months old,” Courtnie said, who went on to explain that Brooke helped make the hospital experience a positive one for Wyatte. “Brooke always advocated for the best care with Wyatte, and she also helped rebuild his confidence.”

Brooke watched Wyatte grow from a toddler into a pre-teen and emphasized that providers who understand a patient's unique needs make a vital difference during appointments. “Having walked their healthcare journeys with them from inpatient to outpatient care, we can help children and their families feel like they are not alone, creating an enduring bond over the years,” said Brooke. “It is also helpful to have staff who are familiar with coping or preferences to make the next stage a little smoother.”

Now 9, Wyatte returns to Shriners Children’s Boston two to three times a year for laser treatments with Branko Bojovic, M.D., chief of plastic, laser and reconstructive surgery. “As Wyatte has gotten older, there have been some challenging times for him, and Dr. B. has always handled every situation with patience and grace,” said Courtnie, who expressed how grateful she is for Dr. Bojovic's support of her son. “To have a doctor that always thinks about his mental health and not just the physical needs is a blessing.”