MATT

February 24,1998
Matt Watson was burned over 77% of his body
in Belleview (Ocala)Florida while playing
with a child proof lighter.

He was rushed to SHANDS Hospital,
in Gainsville, Florida and treated for his
injuries prior to being transported to
the SHRINERS BURN CENTER in Cinncinati, Ohio.

Februrary 27th
Matt regains consciousness and was able to
recognize his mother.

March 2nd
Matt remains in critical condition and on high
dosages of pain medication.
Nurses removed dead skin and tissue (debriding)
The first sking grafts are done in the AM
using cadaver skin.
Later that same day doctors did grafting using
skin from other uninjued areas on Matt's body
focussing on his arms and legs.

March 6th
Doctors do grafting to Matt's torso.

March 10th
Skin is being "grown" for Matt's next grafts.
Doctor's hope to harvest it and do Matt's face
in about two weeks.
Meanwhile he remains in ICU and is holding his own.

MARCH 13TH
Although his chances of survival remain at 50%,
the odds are better now for him. He is breathing
mostly on his own now and will be removed from
the resperator as he is able to breathe totally
on his own.
Doctors have completed covering Matt's
burned area's with an artifcial skin called "INTEGRA".
This is being used because there is not enough of
his own skin to use.
Matt will require years of reconstructive surgery and
rehabilitation

MARCH 23RD

I spoke to Lil Matts mother this morning on the
telephone and from now on we will communicate
on a weekly, or as needed basis to provide updates.

Today they removed the integra on his back and
grafted some of his own onto his neck and his
upper back.
In about two weeks they plan to continue grafting to these areas.
Lil Matt is also fighting a septic infection in his blood.
He is stil l on the feeding tube eating jello :)

MARCH 31ST

This past weekend Matt's mother, Shelley held her son for the first
time since his accident .
Today Matt received additional cultured skin grafts to his chest.
The ones done on his back and arms
using his own skin have almost healed totally.
Matt remains in critcal condition.

APRIL 10TH
MATT has been removed from the ventilator and spoke to his
mother and doctor!!!!
He also asked for his father and grand-father,
who are not there.

Meanwhile his father surrendered to Missouri
police and will extradicted to Florida,
facing charges of first degree arson, arson
resulting in great bodily harm and severe child
abuse. He is accused of deliberatly setting
fire to his sleeping three year old son
following a dispute with his wife.

APRIL 13TH
Matt was taken to the play room
today for the first time on a (Stretcher !!!)
He is scheduled to return there on Thursday.

APRIL 16TH
Matt went to the playroom
again today, and took his
first steps Since the accident!
He walked about ten feet,back
and forth and his mom was there
for this occassion.
He is schedule for skin grafts
on Monday on his legs.
Next he will receive a Second
round of grafts to his neck.
Matt memains in “critical”,
but stable Condition at this
point and Continues to improve
daily. “Critical” means that his
overall condition is stable
but subject to rapid
deterioration (even with
these improvemnets).

Aprul 23rd

Matt has been upgraded from
critical to “fair” condition.
The risk of death and infection
has reduced greatly.

His skin grafts should be complete
within the next few weeks and he
might be able to return home to
florida in about a month.

His mother will be taught the
Excercises he will need and a
Physical therapists will come in
Several times a week.
He will require pressure garments
to reduce garments and still
faces years of reconstructive

MAY 28TH, 1998

WONDERFUL NEWS!!!
Matt is being released from the
hospital in Ohio with the next
two weeks and returning to his
own home here in Florida for the
first time since his accident!!!


Then he will continue to receive
therapy and treatment at home and
from the local hospitals.








MATT RETURNS HOME!!!








Being a normal( 3, almost 4 as he
reminded his grandmother,) he hated the
tie he was wearing as he arrived at the
airoirt in Jacksonville, Florida.
Sitting in a private lounge, on his
Uncle's lap, he also demanded that his
shoes be removed.
Little Matt, a new dress shirt and shorts
over his swaddling of pressure bandages
needed to protect his skin grafts from
becoming infected. He also wears a plastic
had and face mask to protect his face.
But Matt is almost HOME after 15 weeks!!!
Now begins the daily treatments and therapy
by his mother, trips to Shands Hospital in
nearby Gainsville and trips back to the Shriners
Hosital in Ohio.
His story will never be over. It will never
But he has beat the odds. He has beaten death and
he is home with his mother and his brother and two
sisters, where he belongs.



I wish to thank everyone for their
prayers over the past three months
and I hope you will continue them as
Matt still has many years of pain,
surgery, treatment and therapy to
under go.















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DIXIELADY










The angel at the top of this page is for MATT,
please do not take her. Thank you. DixieLady











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