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News - Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock Arkansas USA |
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| Arkansas Children's Hospital |
| Firefighter, ACH Burn Center Patient to Reunite in Washington for National Burn Camp |
| Date : - 26/09/2008 |
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Sept. 26, 2008 – Fayetteville firefighter Marty Powers has stark memories of the first time he saw 6-week-old Angelica Schmitt lying quietly in her crib. On a rescue mission in the infant’s burning house, Powers raced toward the crib as soon as his eyes landed on it. He could just barely focus his vision on a tiny pile of soot stationed in the center of the crib’s mattress for all the smoke. When he reached for it, he felt tiny arms and legs thrash.
“I didn’t know she was even real until I touched her,” Powers said. With flames shooting up around the crib bars, the firefighter scooped up the baby inside. Angelica never even cried.
The infant was flown on the Angel One helicopter to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she remained in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for several days. With burns on the right side of her body, including on her legs, arms and face, Angelica remained in critical condition in the Burn Center for many weeks. Smoke inhalation had even caused her lungs to collapse.
That was 13 years ago. Today, Angelica is a happy and healthy teenager, living in Florida with her mother and siblings. “She has done so well,” said her mother, Leslie Schmitt.
This weekend Angelica will be reunited with Powers at the International Association of Firefighters National Burn Camp in Washington, D.C. More than 40 states are sending firefighter and pediatric burn survivor teams to the nation’s capital for this weekend’s event.
“It’s so important for the self-esteem of these children,” Powers said. “It helps them to have these great recreational experiences with other children who have fought just like they have.”
During the week-long event, the survivors will tour the monuments, memorials, museums and the Capitol. They’ll also meet with national leaders, including some congressional delegation members to share their experiences.
Powers and the Schmitt family have remained in touch for many years since Angelica’s rescue in January of 1995. When Angelica’s family still lived in Fayetteville, they would go to each others’ family events. Powers even drove with another firefighter all the way from Fayetteville to Tallahassee to help the Schmitt family celebrate Angelica’s sixth birthday.
“She calls him, ‘Uncle Marty,’” Leslie Schmitt said. “He’s a part of our family, and we’re a part of his.”
Angelica has come to Arkansas every summer since moving away to attend Camp Sunshine, a four-day camp for pediatric burn survivors held at the 4-H center in Ferndale and sponsored in part by Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
“Camp is always therapeutic for Angelica, so we’re excited about this big national event, too,” Schmitt said. “She’s looking forward to everything from going to the museums to the Capitol and the monuments. And, of course, to bonding with other children who have survived similar experiences.”
Arkansas Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric medical center in Arkansas and one of the largest in the United States serving children from birth to age 21. The campus spans 29 city blocks and houses 316 beds, a staff of approximately 500 physicians, 80 residents in pediatrics and pediatric specialties and more than 4,200 employees. The private, nonprofit healthcare facility boasts an internationally renowned reputation for medical breakthroughs and intensive treatments, unique surgical procedures and forward-thinking medical research - all dedicated to fulfilling our mission of enhancing, sustaining and restoring children's health and development. ACH, recently named for the third time as one of U.S. News & World Report’s best pediatric hospitals, also ranked No. 76 on the 2007 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®. For more information, visit www.archildrens.org.
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| Reference : - www.archildrens.org |
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