Valley Man Saves Family from Fire, Survives Burns to 90% of Body
“The staff at the burn center is extraordinary,” said Boyd. “They have a special caring approach and an expert ability to take you from the healing stage of an injury back to the place in life where you want to be. I could not ask for a better recovery than I had with the Halle Arizona Burn Center. Thanks to them, I got another chance at life.”
When Boyd Smith sets his mind to something, he does it, and that includes healing from a catastrophic burn injury.
Life wasn’t exactly easy for Boyd, who was born with a congenital birth defect that left him with no arms and only one leg, but that didn’t stop him from leading a full and active life. The Black Canyon City resident was a cowboy, a fisherman, and a team roper who won countless championship belt buckles. What Boyd didn’t know was all these victories were training him for what would be the fight of his life.
In May 2012, Boyd woke up in the middle of the night and saw what he thought was a fire in the desert. After further investigation, he realized it was actually his porch that was engulfed in flames. He immediately sprang into action, waking up his wife, stepdaughter, and three young grandchildren, helping them escape the burning house. He also saved the family pets and several horses. Boyd was a hero.
But when Boyd returned for one final check, he fell through the floor of the blazing house and became trapped in the flames. His stepdaughter and wife, Diana, managed to pull him out of the inferno, but he sustained third-degree burns over 90% of his body.
Under most circumstances, an injury like this is fatal. Doctors at the Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center – Valleywise Health only gave Boyd a 10% chance of surviving because of the extent of his injuries. He was placed in a medically induced coma for nearly five months while the skilled physicians applied skin grafts to the majority of his body, managed his pain, and fought off infections.
While Boyd doesn’t recall much of the accident, he now shares his recovery story to help others in similar circumstances. Though most people in his situation would have given up, Boyd uses his experiences to provide peer support for burn survivors.
“He’s one of our biggest cheerleaders and a longtime volunteer,” said Dr. Kevin Foster of the Halle Arizona Burn Center. “No doctor, nurse or therapist can offer the empathy, comfort, and insights a burn survivor like Boyd Smith can.”
Sharing his story of perseverance, accepting the changes in his physical appearance, and supporting the burn team at the Halle Arizona Burn Center gives Boyd new motivation in life. “Volunteering gives me purpose,” he said. “It feels like I’m doing something that will help someone versus just wading through life without passing something positive forward.”
“I’ve seen a lot of hospitals in my life, but there is nothing like the Halle Arizona Burn Center,” Boyd added. “The doctors, nurses, and therapists are all on the same page. I never thought I would be a burn center patient. I never thought I would walk in, or better yet, walk out. They provide hope when there might not be a lot. It is wonderful to have a place like this in the Valley.”
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