Andrew’s Recovery from Firework Blast Injuries

This fundraiser page has been set up to be another method of support during Andrew’s long road to recovery from skin graft surgeries, extensive PT/OT therapies, burn clinic visits, and loss of time at work.  A lengthy, painful road is ahead and it is unknown when Andrew can return to his sales management job with such involved rehabilitation.

 

What happened? Andrew, my dear husband and friend to many, was seriously injured on July 4th as a firework show bystander.  Just a spectator.  No, he did  not light anything, nor was he standing near the firework's point of origin.  It was the type of firework that shoots all the way to the sky!  It was lit and then fell over because it was not properly secured to the ground.  We saw it first discharge sideways and explode with fire embers towards the house porch.   Immediate feeling of panic ensued.  Neither myself nor Andrew had any time to react before the 2nd blast came directly towards where we were sitting in a camper style chairs. The firework made a direct hit to  Andrew's left-lower body.   It exploded primarily onto his left leg removing all the skin in a large section very near his femoral artery and groin.  The major blast injuries included more 2nd & 3rd degree burns to his right leg, abdomen, and the inside of both arms as he folded forward with the explosion. There are also blast burns on his lower legs, hands, and a burn on his back from rolling onto a burning ember.  We both had ringing in our ears with the flash bang.  It was the loudest sound I've ever heard.  I ran over to the left not realizing he'd been hit.  Utter terror when I stopped being disoriented and realized I heard Andrew moaning and splayed out on the ground.  It took me a while to grasp what just happened and could not tell at first what part of him was injured.  Both of us thought that was the end.  He thought he was dying.  But, God -- He spared him and the injuries were not fatal.  

 

911 was called and when sheriffs arrived first to the scene, tourniquet to his left leg was applied (due to concerns of damage to the femoral artery). Andrew was then air lifted via a Care Flight helicopter to Dallas-Parkland Hospital's Trauma/Burn Units. 

 

 

Thankfully, Andrew’s morale has remained high with all the amazing support.  As his wife, I am beyond thankful to have had the time in the hospital to be near him as much as possible.  We have had so much help from friends, family, and neighbors with our child, dog, house management, and errands. So grateful! God is GOOD.  All that being said...He is quite ready to go home to be able to rest & recover more comfortably. As you know— it’s not easy to sleep in a hospital with the revolving door of all the ‘checks, pricks, prods, beeps, questions, etc’.  

STOP HERE IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE BLAST INJURIES ✋ 

 

 

{⚠️WARNING⚠️GRAPHIC PHOTOS BELOW ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️}

 

 

 

 

 

Further assessment upon arrival at Parkland, Andrew underwent emergency surgery on his left leg due to the large burned gouge and hole left by the firework (down to the muscle layer).  It had to be cleaned thoroughly due to the dirty powders in explosives. The depth and size (oval shape of approximately 8 inches in diameter) of missing skin/fat on his thigh being so large, he had to be put under general anesthesia to clean it out thoroughly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{⚠️WARNING⚠️GRAPHIC PHOTOS BELOW ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️}

 

 

 

 

Currently, his pain is being managed as best as possible while under observation to see if any infection will set in or not. Once it’s clear to continue on with the burn-trauma-plastics surgical team plan, he will undergo subsequent surgeries for skin grafts on both legs (right & left upper thighs). 

 

7/7/22 @11am, there is an infection in the right leg being treated with IV antibiotics. Please pray specifically this gets resolved ASAP.