I’m still praying and have taken the liberty of adding first Anthony’s name, age, and condition to our chapel’s prayer list and old family friends (Eastern Rite) have added him to their list as well.


The important thing is for Anthony and his family to not give up. In 2010 I had a first grade girl who had survived a fire that left her with burns on 90% of her body at age four.  In Melissa’s case, the fire was caused by the negligence and greed of an unscrupulous landlord in NYC.  The family was poor, from Ecuador, here legally to make a better life. The landlord made “extra” apartments in his building by adding some thin, sheetrock walls, adding a door with a hallway transom window above. (Illegal in NYC since 1959.) The wiring was uninsulated and he got some guy to tap into the shared gas line of the building next door.
The result was an electrical fire in the wall that worked its way to the kitchen and the gas line exploded. Melissa was in bed, sleeping, and her Dad had dozed off on the couch while watching TV. Melissa’s mother was in her fourth month of pregnancy and was working the night shift at a nursing home. The entire half of the four story building blew up without warning. There were no smoke alarms, no CO2 detectors. Five people were seriously burned and injured, four died instantly, A dozen  others had non-life threatening burns and injuries, including a woman who was hit in the head with a brick as she was getting into her car across the street. A fireman found Melissa and rushed her still on fire from the remains of the building. It’s uncertain how Melissa’s father got out. He was found on the ground, unconscious, badly burned. He later died in the hospital that week.
Melissa was placed in an induced coma on a respirator because of her lung damage and extensive burns. The only area not burned was where she’d been wearing Pull Ups. She’d been fortunate to have wet herself that night thus sparing her privates and buttocks.
She was Medi-Vacked by helicopter to Weill Cornell NY Presbyterian Burn Center where she remained for a year. The next year was spent going in and out for surgery, respiratory, physical, occupational, psychological therapy. Mrs. Z. and Melissa plus new baby sister were given housing nearby.
Melissa was able to start school at age eight. I taught a combined K-1 combination class, which was perfect for Melissa’s needs. She worked and socialized at her own pace. 
She was frequently absent for doctor appointments, more surgeries, but we all were encouraged to see her improve. Once adhesions on her hands were operated and healed, Melissa could write normally and turned out to have attractive handwriting.
After initial fear about coming to school in a wig that others would reject her for scars, she found herself welcomed. I’d prepared the class in advance. I’d shown the kids a photo so they already knew what she looked like. We practiced how to act, what to say, what not to say. N
By the time Melissa arrived, she was a celebrity. 
She adjusted with surprisingly few problems.
Melissa attended our school until October of grade two. Mom was a widow with a toddler and a special needs daughter. She was the sole bread winner, had to place the baby in day care. Once business was closed out in NY and arrangements for Melissa’s continuing care made in Ecuador, the family packed up what little they had left and returned to their home country where they had extended family. 
The school received one letter just to say they were doing well. Melissa was in school for three hours per day and studied with a tutor in the afternoon. Melissa would be 23 today and I wonder how she’s doing.
So, if Melissa made it, so can Anthony!

I’m still praying and have taken the liberty of adding first Anthony’s name, age, and condition to our chapel’s prayer list and old family friends (Eastern Rite) have added him to their list as well.


The important thing is for Anthony and his family to not give up. In 2010 I had a first grade girl who had survived a fire that left her with burns on 90% of her body at age four.  In Melissa’s case, the fire was caused by the negligence and greed of an unscrupulous landlord in NYC.  The family was poor, from Ecuador, here legally to make a better life. The landlord made “extra” apartments in his building by adding some thin, sheetrock walls, adding a door with a hallway transom window above. (Illegal in NYC since 1959.) The wiring was uninsulated and he got some guy to tap into the shared gas line of the building next door.
The result was an electrical fire in the wall that worked its way to the kitchen and the gas line exploded. Melissa was in bed, sleeping, and her Dad had dozed off on the couch while watching TV. Melissa’s mother was in her fourth month of pregnancy and was working the night shift at a nursing home. The entire half of the four story building blew up without warning. There were no smoke alarms, no CO2 detectors. Five people were seriously burned and injured, four died instantly, A dozen  others had non-life threatening burns and injuries, including a woman who was hit in the head with a brick as she was getting into her car across the street. A fireman found Melissa and rushed her still on fire from the remains of the building. It’s uncertain how Melissa’s father got out. He was found on the ground, unconscious, badly burned. He later died in the hospital that week.
Melissa was placed in an induced coma on a respirator because of her lung damage and extensive burns. The only area not burned was where she’d been wearing Pull Ups. She’d been fortunate to have wet herself that night thus sparing her privates and buttocks.
She was Medi-Vacked by helicopter to Weill Cornell NY Presbyterian Burn Center where she remained for a year. The next year was spent going in and out for surgery, respiratory, physical, occupational, psychological therapy. Mrs. Z. and Melissa plus new baby sister were given housing nearby.
Melissa was able to start school at age eight. I taught a combined K-1 combination class, which was perfect for Melissa’s needs. She worked and socialized at her own pace. 
She was frequently absent for doctor appointments, more surgeries, but we all were encouraged to see her improve. Once adhesions on her hands were operated and healed, Melissa could write normally and turned out to have attractive handwriting.
After initial fear about coming to school in a wig that others would reject her for scars, she found herself welcomed. I’d prepared the class in advance. I’d shown the kids a photo so they already knew what she looked like. We practiced how to act, what to say, what not to say. N
By the time Melissa arrived, she was a celebrity. 
She adjusted with surprisingly few problems.
Melissa attended our school until October of grade two. Mom was a widow with a toddler and a special needs daughter. She was the sole bread winner, had to place the baby in day care. Once business was closed out in NY and arrangements for Melissa’s continuing care made in Ecuador, the family packed up what little they had left and returned to their home country where they had extended family. 
The school received one letter just to say they were doing well. Melissa was in school for three hours per day and studied with a tutor in the afternoon. Melissa would be 23 today and I wonder how she’s doing.
So, if Melissa made it, so can Anthony!