Grandson went to the burn hospital today. Got an excellent report. The burn Dr said his face was healing great and his 3rd degree burns on his arms and neck will not require skin grafts, at this time. He cautioned them on infection and told them that they had to keep up his wound care and keep the 3rd degree burn areas as moist as possible. Also they needed to keep the burn areas covered at all times.
He had a scare this morning. He had scratched the blood out of his arms, in his sleep last evening. Of course he is on pain meds and did not realize he was scratching so hard. The Dr told him/them the itching was normal and to cut his fingernails and put gloves on his hands to keep from scratching so hard at night. This was under his dressings that he did that. The dressings were still on his arms, but had blood on them.
The Dr told them the itching was coming from the regeneration of damaged nerves, and the healing process around the burns themselves.
We are delighted no skin grafts are needed and hope that continues. It takes his mother 2 hours to clean and recover the burn areas twice a day. He has made wonderful progress, the Dr said almost unbeliavible, considering the initial burns.
Our prayers have been answered so thanks all of you who prayed for him and them. Most of all thank a "Loving God" for our great news. We are so encouraged and relieved. Got to be careful of infection, but every day that goes by the chances go down on that also.
Mason asked him about the discoloration on his face, and the Dr was truthful with him. Told him it was going to take time for his coloration to come back, and that it may not come back completely, for sure in the most damaged areas. Being 15 he is worried about his looks and that is totally understandable. He explained it might take 2 years for them to recover completely, or as mush as the will. Dr told him his face will probably recover better than the 3rd degree burns and if his arms do have scaring, that he can wear long sleeve shirts. Told Mason he is a lucky child that most of the worst burns can be covered if he has areas of bad scars. Mason was a little disappointed but relieved that his face most likely will clear up in time. His mother said he was worried about going back to school.