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Fighting for one percent
19-year-old Derek Thomas was returning home from a ski resort, when his car was in a major accident. When he was taken to an evacuation helicopter to the burn treatment center in West Hills, he was unconscious. Third-degree burns covered 85% of his body - face, neck, back, arms, abdomen, chest and legs - everything burned. Doctors gave him a 1% chance of survival.
8 photos via framework.latimes.com
1. Derek hospital with friends Sarah Bogart (left), Jen Cruzan, his sister and Molly Keylin Thomas Doheny. Every week he pleased his friends, thanks to which he smiles and feels normal. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
2. Nurse Jennifer Carl weighs Derek Thomas in his room in the middle for Grossman charred. Several months ago, Derek could not even climb on the scales, he had to relearn how to walk, breathe, swallow and talk. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
3. Derek has bad days, but most of the time he amuses those who are nearby. After leaving the hospital he would need months of physical therapy and operations. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
4. Derek Thomas (center) with her mother Paula surrounded by photos of doctors, friends and relatives. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
5. Derek is doing exercises with the hand therapist Josephine Custodio in the House. He had a few months to work out the movement, before re-learned how to touch his nose with one finger or scratching your head. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
6. Derek Thomas throws the ball to another burnt patient under the watchful eye of his father, Randy. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
7. The therapist helps Josephine Custodio Derek bent fingers. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
8. After 11 months after the accident Derek Thomas still wears a bandage. He underwent 42 operations. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Source:
8 photos via framework.latimes.com
1. Derek hospital with friends Sarah Bogart (left), Jen Cruzan, his sister and Molly Keylin Thomas Doheny. Every week he pleased his friends, thanks to which he smiles and feels normal. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
2. Nurse Jennifer Carl weighs Derek Thomas in his room in the middle for Grossman charred. Several months ago, Derek could not even climb on the scales, he had to relearn how to walk, breathe, swallow and talk. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
3. Derek has bad days, but most of the time he amuses those who are nearby. After leaving the hospital he would need months of physical therapy and operations. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
4. Derek Thomas (center) with her mother Paula surrounded by photos of doctors, friends and relatives. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
5. Derek is doing exercises with the hand therapist Josephine Custodio in the House. He had a few months to work out the movement, before re-learned how to touch his nose with one finger or scratching your head. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
6. Derek Thomas throws the ball to another burnt patient under the watchful eye of his father, Randy. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
7. The therapist helps Josephine Custodio Derek bent fingers. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
8. After 11 months after the accident Derek Thomas still wears a bandage. He underwent 42 operations. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Source: