Sky Williams
The family is also on a fixed income and in need of financial assistance to get to and from the hospital. If you'd like to help, donations are being accepted in Sky Williams' name at 811 Central Drive West; Lot 45; Braham, MN 55006.
Posted on 12/19/2005 4:28:38 PM PST by wallcrawlr
The family of a 5-year-old boy from Braham who was severely burned last week is pleading with the public for blood donations such as the ones that have been used to treat the boy.
Sky Williams remains in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center after he suffered third-degree burns over nearly 100 percent of his body.
"Sky's getting all the blood he needs, and the family's request came out of their hearts," said Dr. Elizabeth Perry, associate medical director of the Minneapolis-based Memorial Blood Center. "They just wanted to say help us."
Somewhat complicating the boy's case is that he has O-negative blood and can receive transfusions of only that type. No other blood type has such a limitation. About 7 percent of the U.S. population is O-negative.
During skin graft surgery performed Saturday, he received several blood products, Perry said.
He was burned late Thursday morning when his father briefly left him alone at home. A lit candle ignited his shirt.
Sky's great-grandmother, Billie Williams, told WCCO-TV: "He's fighting for his life, and he needs blood - a lot of it. There's going to be a lot of surgery down the road."
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
If you can help...
Prayers for the little fellow.
^
Best of wishes to this small child, as for as his father, what was going through his head to leave a 5 year old alone at home with candles lit, is beyond me.
We really need to pray for this child and his family....with burns to that extent he will not survive. This such a tragic story.....so prayers up for his family
Can the blood be shipped from another MN location?
I believe it can.
Poor kid.
3rd degree over 100% of his body!!!! can anyone survive that...and would they want to. How horrible for the little guy.
I'm O negative.
Can I go to my local blood bank here in Pennsylvania and say it's for him?
I hate to say it, but there is little chance he will survive and I am not sure that the doctors are doing him a favor by extending it. Prayers sent that God's will be done.
Kat, I think you can request the blood be sent to him.
The family is also on a fixed income and in need of financial assistance to get to and from the hospital. If you'd like to help, donations are being accepted in Sky Williams' name at 811 Central Drive West; Lot 45; Braham, MN 55006.
Williams was playing with a lit candle Thursday in his Braham, Minn. house when his shirt caught fire. At the time, he was alone with his 3-year-old sister in their mobile home while his father was across the street at a relative's home.
When his father saw flames, he ran back and covered Williams with snow. Paramedics said he saved the boy's life.
Williams' grandmother and great-grandmother are caring for the boy's sister and brother while his parents stay with him at the hospital. "If you've never seen this, you can never forget it," said Billie Williams, the boy's great-grandmother. "As it stands, he's got about a 50-50 chance, so every second is precious."
Only the top of Williams' head and the bottom of his feet weren't burned, so he'll need much more medical treatment.
"He's fighting for his life, and he needs blood -- a lot of it," Billie Williams said. "There's going to be a lot of surgery down the road." Family members said the boy's blood type is O-negative. As blood banks run short at this time of year, family members asked people of all blood types to donate; even if they're not able help Sky Williams, they could help others.
The family is also on a fixed income and in need of financial assistance to get to and from the hospital. If you'd like to help, donations are being accepted in Sky Williams' name at 811 Central Drive West; Lot 45; Braham, MN 55006.
Nice of you to post this story...
I thought O was the most common blood type?
100% burned? 2nd & 3rd degree?
From the article it said they are getting the needed blood from blood banks.
So stocking that type blood from anywhere seems critical.
Thats my guess.....?
Hopefully someone much smarter on blood donations issues posts up.
Ok, thanks. I'll go tomorrow.
It's been too long since I've donated anyway and I think anyone can receive blood from me.
third-degree burns over nearly 100 percent of his body.
Yeap O is the univeral donor, but only type O can receive from type O.
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