After two months in intensive care and 10 skin grafts, firefighter Daniel Lyon has reached a significant milestone — he has been moved to a rehab unit where he is resuming some normal activities, including walking unaided and even eating pizza, as long as food is cut into small pieces.
Lyon, who was severely burned in the first hours of the Twisp River Fire on Aug. 19, was moved to a special burn-rehab unit at Harborview Medical Center on Oct. 20, according to Susan Gregg, a hospital spokesperson.
“He’s doing a lot better than anyone has expected,” said Koreena Haynes, the family liaison between Lyon and his family and the U.S. Forest Service. “He was in very critical condition.”
Lyon’s skin grafts are regenerating and he is progressing really well, said Haynes. His condition has been upgraded to satisfactory, according to Gregg.
Lyon, who can walk and do exercises, is undergoing an intense rehabilitation program for range of movement and to keep his skin elastic, said Haynes. Making sure the skin grafts remain flexible and do not form scar tissue is essential. The exercises are extremely painful, but his fitness level and age have aided in his recovery, said Haynes.
Lyon also requires at least an hour of daily wound care, but that is down from three to four hours a day while he was in intensive care.
Physicians expect Lyon, 25, will make a complete recovery, meaning he can function in a work setting, do activities he enjoys and expect normal social relations, said Haynes. He has no lasting damage to his vision and his lungs are healing well.
Lyon will have some limitations in hand movement because doctors had to remove the tips of nine of his fingers to the first knuckle.
Lyon will be able to choose the type of work he wants to do, said Haynes. He talks about returning to police work or firefighting, and that drive is central to his recovery. “He’s so young and so motivated—he can do what he wants to do,” she said.