Support Mavrick's Healing Journey

Hello, we are the Walter family,

Each summer we adventure around the Pacific Northwest with our 3 children, and pup. Both Jay and I have been full time, hardworking parents however, recently life has thrown a few curve balls that has produced some very unfortunate outcomes.

Over the 4th of July holiday we adventured across the mountains, set up camp and began making memories as any family would. The 5th day of July started like any other camping/ hiking trip, we woke up bright and early started the fire and made breakfast before going to Larrabee state park where we spent our morning exploring the beach as the tide was out. Our youngest son Mavrick rode his bike to the beach and back, after seeing live sand dollars and hunting for gooey ducks it was time to head back to camp and take a little nap to reset for more fun. Mavrick however had a different idea and decided to jump up, unzip the tent and hop on his bike. That’s when things changed, within 30 seconds of him exiting the tent, Mavrick rode straight into the fire, Jay and I heard the most horrific sound any parent/person fears, the sound of an innocent child enduring pain unimaginable to even the strongest adult. Instincts kicked in and we were able to act quickly applying fresh water and ice.

We drove to the Allen fire department and met medics who rushed Mavrick and I into the ambulance to begin administering care, we were transported to Skagit Valley Regional Hospital where multiple doctors and nurses evaluated the burns and made a plan. Shortly after we were then loaded back into the ambulance and transported 2 hours to Harborview Burn and Plastic surgery clinic where many more doctors and nurses met us and began care. Once Mavrick’s pain was under control the doctors decided to admit us for the night as the burns sustained needed more evaluation and care the following day.

Morning came and nurses came too explaining things no parent wants to hear. Then came wound care, the extra nights at the hospital because his burns were not as good as we thought.

July 7th, we were finally discharged but scheduled to return a few short days later for an AAP (anesthesia assisted procedure) which requires general anesthesia for wound care.

Doctors told us it would be one AAP visit and then we would move to at home daily dressing changes and wound care.

July 15th we are back at Harborview for another AAP and doctors are unsure if this will be our last visit in clinic or if we are able to do at home care. Throughout the procedure Jay and I are called back into the room to evaluate Mavrick’s burns, we finally got good news although we will be returning eventually we were told we can move to at home care as the burns are approximately 90% healed.

Throughout this time, Jay has taken 1 week off work (more days to come) to help during our son’s recovery. Financially, we were not prepared for this to happen as we’ve just moved and I am still unemployed. Mavrick’s recovery is going well however, we have a long road ahead.