13-year-old boy injured in Mexico explosion treated in Galveston

GALVESTON, Texas – Dr. David Herndon, Chief of Staff at the Shriners Hospital for Children - Galveston, and Juan Carlos' surgeon, says right now the young boy is the only patient from the deadly Mexico City fireworks explosion disaster, but they do anticipate more will come.

Trying to keep as much information about the minor from Mexico private as he could, Herndon would only directly assess Carlos' condition like this:

"I believe he will stay a month, he may need exercise therapy, he will need another operative intervention next week to see if autografting is necessary and he may need rehabilitation after a month."

Herndon equates what patients like Carlos go through to long distance running.

He says the heart beats twice as fast for up to a year after injury, and some children may not grow for two years after a burn, so exercise is essential to force muscle growth.

"We must have agents that will decrease pain, anxiety and itch so they can concentrate on being children: school, and learning and playing," Herndon said.

Herndon said that some Shriners Hospital doctors are in Mexico City, including his partner.

Together, they are making the decision of what other victims will be heading to Galveston.

"We have the capacity here for five more patients and Cincinnati has capacity for two patients and Boston probably two. In Sacramento two. So the Shriner system can absorb another eight to 10," he said.

Anticipated victims that could be on their way range in age from 3- to 22-years-old. Although, some will not be able to make the trip.

"Some patients that would like to be transported here have been so sick that transport has not been deemed advisable," Herndon said.

Herndon says there are challenges transporting burn patients, especially between countries, but he says the Mexican government is being helpful in expediting the victim's care.

The Michou y Mau Foundation says they are making sure the transportation is available whenever a patient is cleared to come to the states.

VIDEO: Explosion at fireworks market

En Fundación Michou y Mau seguimos trabajando para apoyar a los niños que son victimas de la tragedia ocasionada en...

Posted by Fundación Michou y Mau IAP on Wednesday, December 21, 2016

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