FIREFIGHTER'S FAMILY SHARES ITS GRATITUDE.Byline: Anne Burke Daily News Staff Writer This year the family of burned Firefighter William Jensen has endured unimaginable tragedy. But on Wednesday, they gathered at the Grossman Burn Center to say thank you - to the doctors who saved Jensen and to the thousands who offered support in prayers and letters. Most of all, they said they were thankful that Jensen had survived the burns he suffered during the Calabasas Fire. ``Bill is with us and on the mend, and we couldn't have gotten this far without your help. Thank you, thank you very much,'' Jensen's wife, Sue, 52, of Burbank, said at a news conference at the burn center at 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. Today, Jensen's family will celebrate Thanksgiving with its own feast, served at the hospital and prepared by Sue's brother, Ed Kusch, a Burlingame chef. And if the 52-year-old firefighter is up to it, doctors say he, too, will dine on turkey. ``This is the time of the year that we all express thanks, and we to stop and tell you how thankful we are for all the wonderful support we have received from all over the country,'' Sue Jensen said. From across the nation, people have sent get-well cards Noun 1. get-well card - a card expressing get-well wishes card - a rectangular piece of stiff paper used to send messages (may have printed greetings or pictures); "they sent us a card from Miami" get-well card n → , donated blood, cooked meals, signed posters and prayed for the burly bur·ly adj. bur·li·er, bur·li·est Heavy, strong, and muscular; husky. See Synonyms at muscular. [Middle English burlich, from Old English *borlic, excellent; see , Glendale firefighter known as ``Magilla the Gorilla gorilla, an ape, Gorilla gorilla, native to the lowland and mountain forests of western and central equatorial Africa. It is the largest of the apes, the males reaching a height of 5 to 6 ft (150–190 cm) with a 9-ft (144–cm) arm spread. .'' Their wishes, prayers and support have helped, Sue Jensen said. Her husband is making what doctors term a remarkable recovery after being burned over 70 percent of his body when a wall of flames swept over him while fighting the fire in Malibu. In the five weeks since his hospitalization hospitalization /hos·pi·tal·iza·tion/ (hos?pi-t'l-i-za´shun) 1. the placing of a patient in a hospital for treatment. 2. the term of confinement in a hospital. , the Jensen family has been deluged with support of every kind - from food to sustain them during their bedside vigils to a 29-foot trailer on loan from a Van Nuys firm. The Jensen family members nap and eat inside the trailer, parked in front of the Van Nuys Boulevard hospital. Well wishers have delivered all kinds of posters scrawled with upbeat and loving messages to Jensen. One from employees and shoppers at the Glendale Galleria The Glendale Galleria is a large 3 story regional shopping mall located in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. It is the second largest mall in Los Angeles County. It is located in Downtown Glendale. sits in a hallway outside his room in an intensive-care unit. It has this message in graffiti-like script: ``Wassup Bill. Eagle Rock is praying 4 ya. Hope you get well.'' Sue and Bill Jensen's sons, Scott, 31, of Burbank, and Kirk, 30, sat by their mother's side during the press conference. They all wore lapel buttons bearing photographs of Bill's face. A profoundly private family, they chose not to take questions from reporters, said hospital spokesman Larry Weinberg
Doctors initially feared Jensen wouldn't pull through. Though still very sick after six surgeries, Jensen is sitting up and talking. Nurses wheel him outside to sit in the sun. In the past few days, his vocal abilities vastly better, Jensen has been ``chatting away,'' said Glendale Fire Chief Richard Hinz. ``The first thing he said was he apologized for missing our inspection,'' Hinz said. Jensen's biggest medical problem now is the backside of his left hand, burned so badly that only tendon tendon, tough cord composed of closely packed white fibers of connective tissue that serves to attach muscles to internal structures such as bones or other muscles. and bones remain. Beginning Monday, Jensen will undergo his seventh surgery - this one to make a ``mitten'' for the hand. Doctors will open a flap of skin on Jensen's abdomen, insert the hand into the ``pocket,'' sew sew v. sewed, sewn or sewed, sew·ing, sews v.tr. 1. To make, repair, or fasten by stitching, as with a needle and thread or a sewing machine: the incision incision /in·ci·sion/ (in-sizh´un) 1. a cut or a wound made by cutting with a sharp instrument.incis´ional 2. the act of cutting. in·ci·sion n. 1. , and leave the hand there for two or three weeks. By that time, healthy tissue will have grown on top of the tendons and bones, to give him back fingers, said Dr. A. Richard Grossman Richard Grossman is the former co-director of the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy (POCLAD). He is co-author of Taking Care of Business: Citizenship and the Charter of Incorporation. He lectures widely on issues of corporate power, law and democracy. , the burn center's medical director and founder. ``This is not an uncommon procedure when you have this kind of severe burn,'' the doctor said. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos Photo: (1--color) Dr. Richard Grossman and the Jensen family, Scott, Sue, Kirk and Linda, left to right, gather to thank supporters of Firefighter Bill Jensen's recovery effort. (2--color) Bill Jensen's wife, Sue, thanked well-wishers. (3) Dr. Richard Grossman, left, updates well wishers on the progress of Bill Jensen, who was burned fighting fires last month. At right is Glendale Fire Chief Richard Hinz, Jensen's boss. Bob Halvorsen/Daily News |
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