Meet Our Patients

While he was preparing some noodles for dinner, 14-year old Greg Wiseman reached above the gas stove burner to turn off a light switch. In an instant, flames from the burner ignited the shirt he was wearing. Looking down, Greg tried to beat out the flames with his hands as he ran outside the house to avoid any damage to the kitchen. His running made the flames burn faster and further. He rolled on the ground in an attempt to extinguish the burning shirt but the lose-fitting garment was fanned even greater by his frantic efforts.

With a multiple-week hospitalization facing Greg and his family (residents of Concord), they made the decision to remain at the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital. According to Dr. David Hoover, medical director at the Pediatric Pavilion and one of the surgeons who worked with Greg during his 16-day stay, skin cells regenerate from second degree burns between 10 to 14 days. “Once the pain is stabilized and under control, it's a matter of cleaning and monitoring the wounds through the healing process”, says Dr. Hoover.

“In my opinion, we could not have asked for or received better care anywhere”, observed Greg’s mother, Tonya. “With all our time and travels to and from the hospital right here in town, it's really hard to imagine how difficult it might have been for us at another location far away from home”.