Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Just days after Bridger Hunt was hurt with a homemade explosive device, one of his best friends, Tyler Morgan, was badly burned after being wrapped in toilet paper and set on fire. Today, the Orem boy got to go home.
Renee Morgan was all smiles this morning talking about her son Tyler's release from the hospital. He had been in the hospital since Aug. 11. That's the day a group of friends wrapped him in toilet paper to look like a mummy. Then, one of the boys lit the paper on fire, burning Tyler over 25 percent of his body.
His mother says that in the weeks he's been in the hospital Tyler's gone from being on a ventilator and having renal failure, pneumonia and an allergy to an antibiotic, to now being strong enough to go home.
Renee credits the staff at the University Medical Center and one nurse, especially, for motivating her 11-year-old boy to get better.
Renee says, "One nurse in particular was absolutely incredible, and she knew about his personality and everything, and that he's a go-getter and wanted to go home and she was so proactive with him. And it's because of her that we're able to come home so soon."
Renee says Tyler's thrilled to go home. She says he got out of bed this morning and did a "happy dance." But, he does have at least a year and a half of recovery time ahead of him. He must undergo extensive physical therapy, as well as wear special garments over his burns.
Renee Morgan says her son's injuries were purely an accident and Tyler can't wait to get back to playing with his friends. And speaking of friends, Tyler and Bridger Hunt are neighbors and when we told Renee that Bridger should be able to go home soon, she said, "Great! They can heal together."
E-mail: lprichard@ksl.com
