THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501200256
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 09 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY JANIE BRYANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Eleven-year-old Jason Wallbank is still in the burn trauma unit of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, but is past the critical stage now.
Ashley Wallbank said his son has a ``long way to go'' with rehabilitation but is keeping a good attitude.
He suffered mostly second-degree and some third-degree burns over 40 to 50 percent of his body from the Dec. 12 fire, Wallbank said.
``He's probably a few weeks from going to the Children's Hospital,'' Wallbank said.
Meanwhile, Wallbank expresses appreciation to the firefighters and friends who continue to offer support to the family.
``All of those guys have been really supportive,'' he said of firefighters.
The fire, which was caused by an electrical heater, was out and the family had taken Jason over to a neighbor's house by the time firefighters arrived.
But Wallbank will never forget how they took care of things when they did arrive.
``It had such a calming effect over the whole thing,'' he said. ``They were really impressive the way they handled things.
``I didn't realize things were as bad as they were,'' Wallbank says now, looking back on the first of many traumatic days for the family.
``I knew (Jason) was black and I could see that he was burned,'' he said. But the father said he had no idea at the time that he was still in danger of losing his son.
Wallbank said he had been reading that night when he heard what sounded like ``something whimpering, like a little puppy-dog sound'' and realized it was coming from his son's room.
The father ran to the room and opened the door and yelled for his son to get out.
``He said he couldn't move,'' Wallbank said, so he went in after him.
Wallbank said there was more smoke than flames, but that there was a lot of heat.
``It was so hot in there,'' he said. ``I didn't spend more than five seconds (in there) and got burned myself.''
The father was admitted to the hospital. It was the next day when he was allowed to go see his son that he realized how bad things were.
``I wasn't prepared for that,'' he said. ``It was a lot worse than I ever thought it was going to be . . . the monitors and tubes and the way he swelled up.''
He remembers the doctor telling him that Jason was a ``very sick little boy.''
That's when Wallbank realized that his son might not make it, that he was not responding to treatment.
Although Jason has steadily improved, he has a ``lot of hard work and a lot of readjustment'' ahead of him, Wallbank said.
``His life has been changed,'' Wallbank said.
``If anybody could handle this it's Jason,'' his father said.
``He does have that kind of mentality . . . I tend to think he'll be able to handle it better than most.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Jason Wallbank, 11, was seriously burned in a bedroom fire.
Graphic
HOW TO HELP
The Churchland Soccer League has started an account at Commerce
Bank to assist in medical expenses. Contributions made payable to
the Jason Wallbank Burn Fund (Savings Account No. 0882281599) can be
made at any branch or mailed to P.O. Box 1144, Portsmouth, Va.
23705.
The Friends of Jason Wallbank also have started a fund at
Commerce. Contributions may be made at any branch to Savings Account
No. 0682270791 or mailed to P.O. Box 2520, Chesapeake, Va. 23327.
KEYWORDS: FIRE PORTSMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT by CNB