Vino and his family are on their way back to Indonesia. I remember when Vino’s father brought him to our clinic (see photo) with some very bad burns–his chin, chest, ears, neck and right arm were effected by the kerosene fire. Arrangements were made to bring Vino to L.A. where the Grossman Burn Center would provide the needed surgeries and therapy. He was accompanied by his father to America. It took about four years and several...

We call him a prince because he seems to have a domain of his own–he has a northern and southern kingdom. He was six years old when I first saw him. He came in the back of a pick-up truck. He had just had a very bad burn injury and was in a lot of pain. I remember him crying that first day and threatening to have his uncle, a police man, come a shoot the nurse who was treating his burn wounds. He needed urgent care and was in for a couple...

Tison (pronounced Tee-sone) is seven years old and is so full of life and is always smiling. He runs and plays with his friends. He is a kid who will grab your heart very fast. He is normal in every way except is he badly burned over a big part of his body. He was standing a few feet away from his father who was holding a container of kerosene when it exploded in flames. His life changed in a moment. This little boy who has the beautiful smile...

I met with Mary Meier, a nurse, who is trying to open doors for Yulen to get the needed treatment for her burn injuries. Mary is a real hero and she is working on behalf of Yulen. There are several doors that need to open before we can order tickets and get Yulen and her husband here in the U.S. Her surgeries and therapy will take around one year.I appreciate Mary and the heart that she has for this desperate situation. We have a lot to do to...

She was a beautiful young mother. Her home was filled with laughter and the daily chores of any Indonesian family in this region. Yulen and her husband were working hard and making ends meet. Then the tragic kerosene spill happened. She was burned over her chest and face. She went from a young mother to someone who is struggling for her life. She went to the IFC Clinic for help. They have been caring for her and keeping her burns clean and...

Vino has been here in the U.S. receiving reconstructive surgeries to repair the burn injury he received in a kerosene spill accident in Indonesian. He has made fine progress as his right arm and hand were freed and his neck and chin were also reconstructed.He is a normal and energetic little boy. He goes to school and is fluent in English. He has lots of friends but the best friend is Dr. Richard Grossman who is giving him a new life. Dr....

The smell was overpowering as Esther Scarborough, IFC Medical Director, searched for where it was coming from. She walked to a shed behind a home in that remote village in East Indonesia. There she found a badly burned boy near death. He was weak and his burns that covered both legs from his hips to his feet were molded and infected. His burn was so bad that his family had given up on this 17 year old boy. They had “put him out” to die.Anto had...

Vino was brought to one of our clinics. I remember seeing him and wondering what could be done to help him. He had been badly burned in a kerosene spill accident. His right arm, right hand, chest and neck were scared and he needed expert reconstructive surgery. He was presented to the Children’s Burn Foundation and Grossman Burn Center. He came to the U.S. to be treated. He has made wonderful progress and is now free of the burns...

Yulen’s story in her own words:”I remember the time and date the 22nd of February at 7 o’clock at night Iwanted to light the kerosene lamp at our house. I put more kerosene in thelight then I went to put the container of kerosene back but I was stillholding the light when all of a sudden my hair and face was on fire. At thetime my hair was long and it was falling off onto my body, hands and legs asit burnt. I screamed and...

Yulce had an 11 hour surgery at the Shriner’s Hospital in L.A. to correct her curved spine. The curvature of her spine was a result of her physical growth (upward) and the contractures of her burn injuries on her face, neck and chest. The result was scoliosis–the curvature continued to get worse. The spinal surgery was on January 10, 2008. She is now recovering and standing upright. It is clear that she is greatly improved but she...