Posted: 6/7/06
NBFD to reward brave little girl
 Susan Anderson following one of her many skin graft surgeries. She is pictured with (l to r) her mother KrisAnn Anderson, her older sister Niki, 17, and her grandmother Billie Jean Walters. |
By Patrick Tepoorten
Nine-and-a-half-year-old Susan Anderson had just crawled over burning remains of an exploded cabin and, badly burned, her first concerns were for her father when paramedics arrived on the scene May 27 to administer medical care.
For her bravery in the face of a very serious situation, the North Branch Fire Department plans to give her an award.
But right now, the biggest concern is for her health.
The family of Susan and Mark Anderson is asking for thoughts and prayers as Mark, 40, and Susan fight for their lives at Regions Hospital in the Twin Cities.
It was reported last week that Mark and Susan (father and daughter) were both severely burned in a cabin explosion in rural Wisconsin. Susan's grandfather, North Branch fireman Woody Walters, provided an update on their condition Tuesday, June 6.
Mark's condition is being withheld at his own request but Walters was able to describe Susan's condition, which is actually worse than first reported. According to Walters, Susan sustained severe burns to her hands, arms, legs, feet, back, and a portion of her buttocks. She also suffered second degree burns to her face, but doctors are confident she will not suffer any scarring as a result.
As to her extremities and torso, doctors have been busy replacing the burned areas with grafted skin from areas on Susan's body that weren't burned, including areas of her legs, back and buttocks.
As of Tuesday morning, Susan had received more than eight hours worth of skin grafting, with many more to go.
Unfortunately doctors have run out of usable skin at this time and Susan has been resistant to having grafts fashioned from her scalp as that would require doctors to shave the hair off. Walters believes doctors will be able to convince Susan that doing so is necessary in the next few days though.
Given the severity of Susan's burns, doctors are not able to make any kind of prognosis at this time. One of the primary concerns aside from the healing that needs to take place is the risk of infection. For many burn victims, whether or not an infection takes hold can be the difference between life and death. So far Susan has been able to avoid infection and is receiving a high protein diet via feeding tube to help her heal quickly, which will reduce the chance of infection.
One complication caused by anti-infection measures is that family is not allowed to visit Susan after visiting Mark. Often times family members are forced to choose who to visit on a particular day.
In the short term, Susan's required surgeries, dressing changes, and other tasks that nurses must perform are proving very painful. Despite that, she remains as positive as she can and a "fighter" according to her grandfather.
Susan's mother KrisAnn has been by her bedside since she arrived at the hospital last week, despite family's best efforts to convince her to take a break. When KrisAnn sleeps, other family members, including Susan's brother Logan, 14, of North Branch, take shifts sitting with Susan.
Logan has been very protective of his little sister, according to Walters. When it was discovered that there was no DVD player in Susan's room for her to watch movies, Logan went on a hunt of his own. Having discovered a DVD player in another room he promptly brought it back for her sister. Unfortunately, the DVD player belonged to someone else and had to be returned, which Logan did graciously.
The North Branch Fire Department (NBFD) has since provided Susan with a DVD player of her own. Walters expressed great appreciation for the NBFD, which has been very supportive, including monetary donations and in other ways that no one could have imagined.
Education pays off
According to Walters, Susan has told him that her instinct to crawl from the structure came from the times she had been instructed by the NBFD in fire safety at school. With temperatures climbing rapidly from the floor to the ceiling, Walters feels that, had she tried to walk from the structure, she would have died or been much more severely burned.
For her actions in saving her own life on May 27, including two failed attempts to get out of the burning cabin before her successful one, and for her concern for her father above herself immediately following the explosion (Susan had instructed paramedics to tend to her father before her), the NBFD intends to give her an award for bravery in the face of peril.
In the meantime, the family is hoping for the best for Susan. "This is a marathon," said Walters. "The family needs to pace itself for the long haul." That said, Walters reported that Susan is in good spirits and bearing up very well.
A recovery fund has been set up for Susan at First National Bank in North Branch. It is a different account from that which was reported last week, which is still in use but has been dedicated to Mark.
Clarification: The Lake State Federal Credit Union account that was reported above as "dedicated to Mark" is in fact a fund dedicated to the Anderson family as a whole. With neither Mark or KrisAnn working the fund is designed to assist with covering family expenses. The fund information below has been changed to accurately reflect this clarification.
Donations for Susan and the Anderson family
Donations for the Anderson family can be sent to:
Mark and Susan Anderson Recovery Fund
Lake State Federal Credit Union
6241 Main St.
North Branch, MN
55056
Donations for Susan's recovery can be sent to:
Susan Jean Anderson Burn Recovery Fund
First National Bank
38860 10th Ave., P.O. Box 520
North Branch, MN
55056-0520
Comment from Aunt Kim, cousins Amber and Anthony, 6/7/06
We are SO PROUD of you Susie Q !!
You are our hero, the Lord was with you then, and will be your entire life, YOU have a huge purpose in your life, we know the Lord has entrusted the right person for the job, you WILL get through this, we LOVE YOU !!!!
Comment from Aunt Shellie, 6/7/06
You are one brave little girl Suz. Your are my little Hero and I thank God both of you are still with us.
Comment from Nancy & Kenny Feeken, 6/8/06
Susie, we are members with the Rushmore, MN Fire Department and want to let you know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Keep fighting, you are one brave little girl.
Comment from Joe Morley, 6/8/06
Susan and Mark:
You are in our prayers - anything we can do for you please let us know.
Cambridge Fire Department
Comment from Mike and Mary Ann Galvin, 6/19/06
KrisAnn and Family,
You are in our prayers.
Mike and Mary Ann Galvin
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