BURNED FIREFIGHTER RETURNS HOME.Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer Less than two weeks after he was severely burned in the Calabasas blaze, Glendale firefighter Scott French walked out of a hospital on Sunday, eager to go back to work and joking about his facial surgery. ``I was kind of hoping they would have me looking like Mel Gibson Noun 1. Mel Gibson - Australian actor (born in the United States in 1956) Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson, Gibson U.S.A., United States, United States of America, US, USA, America, the States, U.S. when I got out of here, but it's not going to happen,'' he said. ``I'm not picky pick·y adj. pick·i·er, pick·i·est Informal Excessively meticulous; fussy. picky Adjective [pickier, pickiest] Brit, Austral & NZ . I'm just grateful to be alive,'' he added. Just before leaving for his Ventura home, French, 41, was feted at a going-away party in a shady garden at the Grossman Burn Center in the Sherman Oaks Hospital Sherman Oaks Hopital (SOH) is an 153 bed acute care facility in Sherman Oaks, California, USA and is home of world renowned the Grossman Burn Center. SOH is owned and operated by Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. and Health Center. Despite his painful injuries, he hopes to be back on the job in January. ``I would not feel comfortable with myself . . . to say OK, I've had the big one and I just can't handle it anymore,'' said French, the skin on his left cheek and ear pink and peeling. French suffered burns over 25 percent of his body when a wall of fire swept over him and fellow Glendale firefighter William Jensen as they raced to protect homes near Corral corral a small fenced-in enclosure with high, wooden fences, suitable for holding cattle or horses. corral system a management system in which range cattle are put into corrals and fed hay for a period when the environment is most Canyon Road in Malibu. Jensen suffered second- and third-degree burns third-degree burns npl → brûlures fpl au troisième degré third-degree burns third npl → Verbrennungen pl dritten Grades over 70 percent of his body and remained in critical condition Sunday after undergoing skin grafting Skin Grafting Definition Skin grafting is a surgical procedure by which skin or skin substitute is placed over a burn or non-healing wound to permanently replace damaged or missing skin or provide a temporary wound covering. surgery Friday. Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. city firefighter Ross Torstenbo, injured when his firetruck stalled and was overrun by the same wall of fire, was also scheduled to be released from the burn center Sunday, but doctors decided to keep him for a few more days, said burn center spokesman Larry Weinberg
Surrounded by dozens of firefighters from Glendale, Pasadena and Los Angeles city fire departments, French was in good spirits Adv. 1. in good spirits - without losing equilibrium; "she took all his criticism in stride" in stride Sunday as he sliced a cake decorated with a firefighter's helmet. ``This is almost as good as graduating from high school,'' said a smiling French, hugging Los Angeles city firefighter Surgey ``Guy'' Tomlinson, also injured in the fire and released from the burn center Oct. 24. French said he was surprised by the support he's received from the community. He was deluged with get-well cards, posters and balloons. Among those attending his going-home party was singer Pat Boone Charles Eugene Patrick "Pat" Boone (born June 1 1934) is a singer whose smooth style made him a popular performer of the 1950s. His cover versions of African-American rhythm and blues hits had a noticeable impact on the development of the broad popularity of rock and roll. , whose nephew is a Los Angeles County firefighter. French has participated in the California Firefighters Burn Relay, which raises money for the Grossman Burn Center and other medical facilities. Holding the couple's 4-1/2-year-old daughter Rhiana, who has Down syndrome Down syndrome, congenital disorder characterized by mild to severe mental retardation, slow physical development, and characteristic physical features. Down syndrome affects about 1 in every 730 live births and occurs in all populations equally. , French's wife, Mary, thanked the community for helping her through the frightening ordeal. ``I'd like to thank everyone for their caring and support because without that, it would have been difficult,'' said Mary French. Also with French were daughter Renee, 10, and son Jason, 14. ``Just for him to be home is the greatest thing,'' Jason said. ``I missed him a lot.'' Glendale Fire Chief Richard Hinz said he felt wonderful about French's speedy recovery. ``I'm just tickled to death that all of the people that have been injured in this fire incident have responded so far as well as they have.'' Now the chief is focusing on Jensen. ``He's got a long road ahead of him, and hopefully it won't be too terribly long and we'll be having the same kind of event for Bill,'' Hinz said. French has had two skin grafts, and will meet with doctors Wednesday to find out if more are needed. ``Skin grafting is very, very painful, that's why Ross Torstenbo is not able to leave today; he's still in a lot of pain,'' French said. For the next few months, French will be at home resting - and staying out of the sun. He hopes to be able to return to work in January. ``I hope it's sooner because the sooner I get back, the better it will be for me psychologically,'' he said. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Firefighter Scott French shakes hands with fellow firemen. John McCoy/Daily News |
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