What Happened?

On Monday, August 31, while lighting a bonfire, there was a “flashback” that burned Elizabeth and Joshua. Mark and Joanne immediately took both children to the hospital in Greenwood. From there, the children were airlifted in separate helicopters to the Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia. Because of the number of personnel required to fly in the helicopters, there was not room for Mark and Joanne. The crews were able to get the pain under control quickly and the kids actually enjoyed the ride…a first for both of them. At the Burn Center (one of the premier centers in the nation), the pain continued to be managed and their wounds rewrapped. The wounds were kept moist with chlorinated water all night to keep infection away. Mark and Joanne were able to be with them at the Burn Center through the night. On Tuesday morning, both Joshua and Elizabeth underwent surgery to scrape away the burned skin and cover the wounds with pig skin. The pig skin coats the wounds and eases pain during healing. They were able to come home Tuesday night with oral pain medicine.

Elizabeth’s burns are on her arms, hands, fingers, legs, and face covering approximately 20% of her body. All of her burns are first and second degree burns, the most severe on her arms. Joshua’s burns are on his arms, hands, legs and face. His burns cover about 15% of his body, the most severe on his legs.