Shameless Mom brag!

Excuse me while I do a Mom brag. Many of y'all know of my son's accident, for those of you who don't, you can read about it here & here . I didn't give many details of the accident in those posts (maybe beacsue it was still too raw to talk about) but he was draining diesel fuel someone had mistakenly put into a gasoline-powered car, using an electric fuel pump. Standard practice in the automotive industry but in this instance, something sparked & it all went up in flames...Clifton included. His brother, Dustin, saved his life; ripping his shirt off & covering him w/ a tarp. Diesel fuel does not extinquish easily though & Clifton's burns were very extensive. He suffered 3rd degrees burns on his entire front torso, right thigh (down to the knee), both arms (from the tops of his shoulders down to his fingertips) & both hands. He suffered 4th degree burns on his right hand, which required amputation of 2 fingers. All of these areas were grafted in several surgeries. He also suffered 2nd degree burns on his neck, face, ears, groin & portions of his back but these areas did not require grafting, thank God.

Yesterday he had another burn clinic appointment. He goes to physical therapy twice a week but since his wounds have healed, he only see Drs every 2 months now. The head burn Dr, who is notorious for being harsh in his assessment of the patients & their abilities, told Clifton that he had made more progress than any patient he has had in a very long time... maybe ever. And he did it w/ no release surgeries! (release surgeries are usually necessary for contracture. The scarred skin literally contracts up as it heals & scars, like a rubber band) Clifton works so hard @ stretching, despite the pain, that he breaks open (releases) the scar bands himself. Except for his right hand, he has full range of motion. That's hard to achieve & it usually takes a couple of years...especially w/ burns as severe as his. Clifton has done in it in less than 6 mos! Dr Gabriel also said (& I quote), "Mark this one down in the books...we've had a burn patient quit taking pain meds before they were refused them."

Yep, that's right! Clifton hasn't taken his pain meds in over a month. He says it makes him feel foggy & he doesn't want to be foggy around Noah (he cares for his baby Noah while Stacie is @ work...I'd be happy to do it of course but Clifton wants to do it himself...I do keep Noah 2 days a week though). I cannot tell you how proud I am of my son. He has undergone a tragedy that is beyond most of our comprehension, has pain that, according to his Drs, is the most horrific pain imaginable & he does it all w/ a wonderful, positive attitude & a smile on his face.

This is a picture of Clifton & Stacie taken @ Christmas this year. We were very fortunate that his face didn't scar much. That florid complexion he & I have (& hate!) came in handy for the burns. The Drs told us it kept blood flowing near the surface, which helped skin regeneration. There's a couple of small scars here & there but they'll fade w/ time & he's grown a goatee to cover the scars under his chin. He's still one handsome man, huh?

Here he is w/ his look-alike son, Noah...I call them Frick & Frack. *grins* I've neevr seen a man so bonded to his newborn. I'm sure it's because he is the primary care-giver. We used to tell Clifton, while he was in the hospital, that one good thing would come of his accident....he would get the gift of time w/ his son that most men never get. He takes full advantage of it.

If we all had just a bit of Clifton's strength of character, determination & positive outlook, the world wouldn't be in the mess it's in. He's always wanted to be a hero... I'm sure he imagined it to be a bit more glamorous but he got his wish for he is, indeed, my hero.