Nov 17, 2009 11:25 pm US/Eastern
Exclusive: Burned Teen's Parents Speak Of Recovery
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
It's been five weeks since 15-year-old Michael Brewer suffered burns over two-thirds of his body after five other teens doused him in rubbing alcohol and set him on fire in a dispute over money, according to BSO detectives.
Now, Brewer's parents and grandmother are talking to
CBS4's Shannon Hori.
"I don't tell him what happened. I just tell him he's in the hospital and he's safe and he's getting better. And he'll say, 'Am I going to be ok?' And I say 'Yes, Michael. You're going to be fine. You're going to be just fine'," explained his mother Valerie Brewer.
Michael Brewer has a long, painful road ahead. Even in his drug-induced state, he continues to relive the nightmare over and over again.
"He screams for his Dad and he screams for help, and he says he's on fire," said his grandmother Reenie Brewer, who then has to reassure him that he's not.
Michael has second and third degree burns over 65-percent of his body. Fortunately he protected his face as he ran to a pool and jumped in; an act that likely saved his life.
His mom explains that most of the burns are on his back and rear end.
"Michael's not going to remember the ICU unit because of all the drugs he's on. And that's comforting because he won't remember the incredible pain that he's going through," said Valerie. "But we'll remember," she added.
Valerie and Mike Brewer Sr. have been at Michael's bedside since it happened. His father remembers seeing him for the first time after the accident and Michael reached out to console him.
"From the first day, he put his hand up to shake and hold my hand, the one that was burnt. This is when he was all swollen so his eyes were closed. So from that day on I've been a lot stronger than I should be because that was like… it's alright dad," said Mike Brewer Sr.
The teen has a long road to recovery but he is slowly improving. In the beginning, his mother explained it took four hours to change his bandages. But not anymore.
"He's come so far, he's healing so well. They only have to change his bandages every other day now," said Valerie. "They take him outside for ten minutes. They go to secluded area where there aren't too many people. Because people come up to us, he gets nervous. He starts crying."
It's not known what he'll look like in ten years.
His mother explains, "It depends on his skin, how he's going to heal. Whether smooth, discolored, or rough and it depends on the deepness of the burn."
He has deep third degree burns on his lower back. But his parents say the other areas seem to be doing well.
The Brewer's have had other good news recently. Michael's breathing tube was taken out last week and he spoke.
"We had gone outside for the first time, someone was walking up and he says in his little whisper voice, 'Can I have a dollar? I want a milk shake and fries'. It was rather cute. Daddy ran out and got a milkshake and fries for him."
He was able to eat four fries. He still has a feeding tube to help him regain weight and enjoys eating junk food right now, especially chocolate chip cookies.
Though Michael is talking he has not yet spoken to investigators about the day he was attacked.
"He is nowhere near ready for that. He's got a long way to go before he'll be able to do that. I'll leave that up to his doctors," said Valerie.
Police say five teenage friends doused Michael with rubbing alcohol and set him on fire in a case of retaliation. One of the teens allegedly tried to steal a bicycle owned by Michael's father when Michael didn't pay the boy $40 for a video game. That boy was apparently angry with Michael for calling the police.
As for the parents of the boys charged in the case, none have tried to contact Michael's parents. Three of them have been charged as adults.
Michael's parents say all their energy is directed toward their son and not the boys who put him in the hospital.
"We can't focus on it. They'll get theirs is all we can say. I don't focus on it."
In addition to focusing all their attention on their son, they're also giving their loving child all the support then can.
"I don't know how many 15 year olds get out of the car in the morning and kiss their mother goodbye. That's my son."
Michael's family did share pictures of him in the hospital and his burns but didn't want to show them on TV or the internet.
On Friday, Michael is having a skin grafting procedure done. His family asks that people continue to pray for Michael because they feel the prayers are working and that Michael is improving. They've been overwhelmed by the amount of support from the community.
CBS4's Neighbors 4 Neighbors continues to collect donations through the Family Fund for Michael Brewer to help with hospital expenses.
Go to
www.cbs4.com/neighbors or
www.neighbors4neighbors.org. and click the Donate Now link to make online donations or call
305-597-4404.
CBS4's Lisa Cilli contributed to this report
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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