Hope Is Still Alive for Burned Youth

With quietly emotional voices, Hal and Bonnie Halsell on Friday thanked friends and strangers for supporting and praying for their badly burned son.

Since Michael Halsell, 17, arrived at a Sherman Oaks hospital Monday night with third-degree burns over 85% of his body, friends have been streaming through the facility to offer their help.

Although Michael’s parents, in their first public statements since the accident, took care to thank the rescue crews, doctors and nurses who have kept their son alive, they paid special attention to Michael’s classmates from Newbury Park High School. Students have come to the hospital after school every day this week, bringing Michael get-well messages to boost his spirits.

“They line the corridors at night, they pray, they are fantastic,” said Bonnie Halsell.

Despite Michael’s condition, his mother believes he can pull through. “I do believe in miracles, and all these kids do, too. He is a feisty young man, and I do believe he’s going to make it.”

The young man the world knew as David Rothenberg, whose father set him on fire in a Buena Park motel room in 1983 during a custody dispute with the boy’s mother, also showed up to offer his support.

“I just . . . wanted to let the family know there’s hope and that there is a chance, and just not to give it up--which they’re not doing,” said the 19-year-old, who offered encouragement to Michael’s brother, John.

Michael remained in extremely critical condition Friday at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. Although he was conscious, he was able to communicate only by squeezing his parents’ hands in response to questions.

“One squeeze for yes, two squeezes for no--that’s the conversation he had with his parents this morning,” said Dr. A. Richard Grossman, the center’s founder and medical director.

Michael suffered his injuries Monday while rappelling off an Edison tower on the Conejo Grade. Up to 220,000 volts of electricity raced through his body and set his clothes on fire.

Doctors on Wednesday spent three hours removing burned skin from Michael’s arms and chest. Depending on his condition, they may operate again Tuesday to take away more dead skin, this time from his back and thighs.

Grossman said that although there are encouraging signs--the swelling of Michael’s face has gone down and his kidneys are functioning well--his condition remains grave. Doctors will continue to try everything possible, he said, to help Michael recover.

“You don’t do anything except pull out all the stops,” Grossman said.