The nine year old burn victim we told you about last night, Kent Vernon Flowers is still in a very critical condition but we are happy to report that some four hours after his dad appeared on 7News last night, the child was flown via air ambulance to Galveston Texas at the Shriner’s Children’s Burn Center. Today we caught up with the child’s father Kent Vernon Flowers Sr. and Yvette Burks who helped facilitate the trip.
Kent Flowers Sr., Father of Burn Victim
“I feel very happy because I know once he is out there, it is much better for him. They have good doctors out there so I am very happy.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“He left 10:30 last night and arrived in Galveston around 1:30 this morning. Have you heard anything since then?”
Kent Flowers Sr.,
“They called me and they told me he is doing fine. He is talking and
talking with his mom and so he is doing good now.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“And it looks like the help came just in time because I understand that there were no pulse in his lower extremities and there was the risk of both his legs being amputated.”
Kent Flowers Sr.,
“Well actually they moved exactly on time because as soon as they reached there, they had to take a surgery on his leg because if it was a little longer he would have lost his legs.”
Yvette Burks, Rotary Gift of Life
“And Jackie it was none too soon. As they reported, he is very critical, he also had a problem with no pulses in his legs. I don’t know if you know about the situation with burns after it swells up and it gets really really
bad, it locks off after a while the circulation and so he had to go into emergency surgery upon arrival last night. It was a little decision because of course the cost of the ambulance plane is already so prohibitive.
It was a difficult decision to decide to bring in that plane last night when it landed kind of late but I am so happy we did that. He has a serious fighting chance now and definitely we have saved his legs and we are optimistic. We expect that he will make it and we expect he will be like so many other children around Belize who will walk around with some burn scars but will be able to live a normal happy healthy life.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“You’re looking much better today.”
Kent Flowers Sr.,
“Definitely I feel better.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“We know this is going to be a long road back to recovery for young Kent.”
Kent Flowers Sr.,
“I know I know I know but we are going to be there for him.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“Because of the extent of his injuries, he is expected to be away from home for a very long time.”
Yvette Burks,
“Oh yes and definitely there is no way to tell how fast he will be able to recover but with his extent of burns, which by the way is almost 100% third degree according to the doctors at the facility in Galveston, and which covers about 85% of his body, not 80% we are sure that it will be a long long road and I wouldn’t lie to you, he is not out of danger now and he won’t be for a long time. Not for a long time, it will be touch and go for quite a while yet.”
Kent Flowers Sr.,
“I want to thank everybody, all Belizeans, the private sector and the business sector for helping me out because without them he wouldn’t be out there.”
Like we said nine year old Kent Vernon Flowers is still not out of the woods yet. He still has a lot of surgeries to do and remains in a very critical condition at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston, Texas. Around three on Monday afternoon, the son was standing by his father’s car as Kent Sr. was pouring gasoline into the vehicle and had left the container next to the vehicle but as the father turned the key into the ignition an explosion occurred and nine year old Kent Vernon Flowers was engulfed in flames.
