First responders to host fundraiser for 8-year old burn victim during National EMS Week
In celebration of National EMS Week, several partnering emergency services are coming together to host a fundraiser for an 8-year-old Canyon resident who was severely burned in an accident.
The fundraiser will be held Saturday, May 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Southeast Park Pavilion in Canyon.
On April 1, Brantley Parrish, 8, was severely burned in an accident involving a gas can explosion. He was taken by BSA ambulance to Northwest Texas Hospital and later flown by Lifestar to UMC Children's Hospital in Lubbock.
"It was my 1-year-old's birthday, and the kids were making s'mores with my dad, and Brantley poured gasoline on the fire and the gas can exploded ... there was a family friend that acted very fast and put the fire out on him. I think it took about nine seconds after the 9-1-1 call for the sheriffs to get there and start treating him. Within 30 minutes, a helicopter was on the way to have him flown to the hospital," said Jennifer Parrish, Brantley's mother.
Since that day, Brantley Parrish has undergone six surgeries for the third-degree burns on his torso, arms. and face. According to his mother, Brantley's injuries are fully grafted and closed.
"The last surgery was to graph his face, which was a 100% take. He is having some issues with some contractures, which will take a lot of work to avoid, but he's pulling through. He's up, walking and being a normal stubborn 8-year-old," Jennifer Parrish said. Contracture is defined as a condition of the shortening and hardening of muscles, tendons, or other tissue, often leading to joint issues.
In honor of Brantley's fight and road to recovery, BSA Health System EMS, Canyon Fire Department, Canyon Police Department, Randall County Sheriff's Office and West Texas A&M University Police Departments will hold the fundraiser, with proceeds toward helping cover Brantley's medical bills.
"This is part of our national EMS week. We knew we wanted to do something big like a fundraiser to end the week, and after talking to my team, they had mentioned that Brantley had been on their mind, and we decided to put it together to benefit him and his family," said Perry Perkins, B.S., Licensed Paramedic, Director of BSA Health System EMS Services.
During the event, the emergency services groups will provide hamburgers with chips and a drink. The food will be served free of charge, but donations are highly encouraged. The emergency services are hoping to raise about $5,000 for the Parrish family.
The fundraiser will also include several raffle giveaways from donated items. Each giveaway will include a bag of goodies amounting to estimate a minimum of $100 value. Some raffle items include gift cards to Feldman's Wrong Way Diner, Cinergy, a $500 package from House Divided Restaurant and Sports Grill, and more.
Throughout National EMS week, BSA will also host several other free activities in support of emergency responders, including a coffee truck on Monday and Thursday, Joe Taco's taco truck providing lunch, free Hud's breakfast or dinner on Wednesday, and on Friday the BSA will host a Code Lavender relaxation.
"It boggles my mind to know that there are such good people in the world. We don't even have extended family in Amarillo. It's just ourselves and the whole Amarillo community, emergency personnel, schools, random people calling in every day to check in on us. It means the world to my family to know that there's people out there that care," Jennifer Parrish said.
For more information, individuals are encouraged to follow their #TeamBrantley Facebook page for updates online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/367966691924054 .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: First responders to raise funds for burn victim for National EMS Week
