CENTRAL HIGH GRADUATE SEVERELY BURNED

A graduate of Central High School remains in critical condition following an accident that left him severely burned. Doug Benton of Breckenridge, Colo., received third degree burns on 32 percent of his upper body when a painting job turned into an inferno.

Benton, son of Ron and Melinda McCully and Dean Benton of Cape Girardeau, was spray painting inside a new condominium. A water heater was inadvertently lit and exploded when the paint fumes hit the pilot.

He was the only one in the room at the time. Benton's face was partially protected by a respiratory mask he was wearing.

He was flown by helicopter to the University of Denver Hospital were he spent eight weeks in the burn unit. Last week, Benton was flown by an intensive care jet to St. John's Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.

Melinda McCully said her son is still in serious condition. "When he was burned his whole body shut down," said McCully. "His kidneys were damaged and his left lung has collapsed twice and both are in bad shape. He has been on a respirator for nine weeks."

Benton, who is a third generation painter, had seven surgeries and still has two more remaining. McCully said his condition is touch and go and that he is in and out of consciousness.

She said her son is in severe pain from skin grafts on his arms, hands and legs. A chest tube was recently removed. He has been fighting lung infections.

McCully said she has been with her son most of the time. "It has made an old woman out of me. I have been home only 15 hours in the past nine weeks."

She said the support she has received from family and friends has been a blessing. "His face is healing miraculously. People have been sending their prayers."

McCully, who gives children's puppet shows to surgery-bound children, said she thought she had lost her son. "We thought we had lost him several times. He keeps coming back," she said. "The good Lord and His angels and prayers have kept him alive."

She said her son's doctors said cards and letters are critical to his care. Benton will be in the burn unit for two more weeks and then will be sent to the rehabilitation unit.

Those wishing to send a card to Benton may write to him at:

Doug Benton

c/o 615 South New Ballas Road

St. John's Mercy Medical Center

St. Louis, MO 63141