HAWTHORNE, Fla. – A 6-year-old Hawthorne boy is back home with his family and enjoying being a kid again after a lengthy recovery at a Texas hospital following a fire that nearly took his life almost two years ago.
On Christmas Eve in 2022, Nathan Scott was severely burned during an accident while trying to help his father in the backyard. Nathan was trying to help his dad burn yard waste in a burn barrel when the first started to burn out. Without anyone looking, Nathan grabbed a gas can and threw it into the barrel, hoping it would keep the fire going, but instead, it caused an explosion.
Over 50% of his body was severely burned. He was rushed to UF Health in Gainesville but those doctors were only able to do so much to tend to his life-threatening injuries, so once Nathan was stabilized, he was flown to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston, Texas.
That’s where Nathan was treated for his severe injuries and his physical rehabilitation began 900 miles away from home.
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“I went to therapy every day,” he said.
He continues to adjust to a new life as a hand amputee with, grafted skin, and scars that are reminders of his accident.
Nathan said his favorite place at Shriners was the playroom, where he had “lots of fun.”
Scott said the long road to recovery was rough on their family.
“It was very scary to watch him go through everything he did,” Scott said.
Before Nathan’s return, construction contractors who heard about his accident built him a new orange and blue bedroom and bathroom that was originally built with wheelchair accessibility because his mom, Katie Scott, said there was a time when they weren’t sure if Nathan would ever walk again.
“Even after surgeries now, there are chances he will be wheelchair-bound for so many days afterward. A wheelchair can get around everywhere in the room,” Scott said.
Scott said the local firefighters collected money at stop lights and held fundraisers to show the family support.
Other businesses in Putnam County held fundraisers for the family too.
As a huge Florida Gators fan, Nathan spends quality time with his family when he isn’t watching basketball.
Nathan said he was happy to be back in his family’s arms because he missed them a lot during his recovery time.
Scott said Nathan is so comfortable that when she takes him to the park, he introduces himself to other kids and explains to them what happened to him.
He’s also a Shriners Hospital patient ambassador who was invited to Mardi Gras to ride on the Shriners float, and has to travel back to Texas every three months for follow-ups with his doctor.