Fifteen-year-old Christian, a high school sophomore from Willis, Texas, is currently recovering at Shriners Children’s Texas after surviving a devastating burn injury at his home. Last December, while building a bonfire with a friend in the family’s backyard, Christian poured gasoline from a can onto the fire. The flames ignited, causing an explosion that left him with burns on over 70% of his body. In a split second, he instinctively shielded his face with his hands, suffering severe injuries to his arms and hands, and especially his left hand.
“I didn’t realize what had happened right away,” Christian said. It wasn’t until his friend shouted that Christian was on fire that he ran and jumped into the family’s swimming pool. His mother, alarmed by the sound of the explosion and her daughter’s screaming Christian’s name, found him soaking wet on the porch. Emergency responders rushed him to a hospital in Houston, and within a day, he was transferred to the burn intensive care unit at Shriners Children’s Texas.
Christian spent one month in the ICU and another month as an inpatient in the hospital. Today, he continues his recovery through outpatient physical therapy, working hard to regain mobility in his hands and legs.
Everyone at Shriners Children’s made me feel comfortable and well taken care of. From nurses to doctors to staff – it has just been amazing.
Christian’s resilience doesn’t stop at physical recovery. He is also the first official full-time student at Shriners Children’s Texas through a special partnership with Odyssey Academy. Under the guidance of hospital schoolteacher Flor, Christian keeps up with his schoolwork online while undergoing treatment at the hospital. “This is a great example of Shriners Children's wrap-around care,” Flor said. Education is a large part of the overall patient experience at Shriners Children’s.
Christian’s mom is grateful for the care they've received: “Everyone at Shriners Children’s made me feel comfortable and well taken care of. From nurses to doctors to staff – it has just been amazing.”
Outside of school and therapy, Christian is passionate about welding and dreams of pursuing it as a career. He even competes in welding competitions and crafts animal sculptures from horseshoes. “I like manipulating metal. That’s the fun of it, to be creative with metal,” he said. He also enjoys fishing during the summer and is an avid history buff, especially fascinated by World War II.
April McCarty, MSN, NFP, a nurse practitioner at Shriners Children’s Texas, describes Christian as “a wonderful personality” who “truly defines perseverance and strength.” She added, “I believe he will go on to do anything he puts his heart, mind and determination into.”
Christian and his physical therapist, Candice, in the rehab gym.
Christian works hard during an arm mobility physical therapy session.
Christian works on his online schoolwork in the hospital classroom.
Christian at a welding competition last year.
Christian shows off a catch when he was younger.
