Getting Better All the Time

A 17-year-old boy badly burned in a high school physics experiment is recovering so rapidly that he may be able to leave the hospital by New Year’s Day, doctors said Tuesday.

Christopher James appeared in good spirits at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Medical Center, inviting photographers to take his picture and waving to reporters from his hospital bed.

Flanked by his mother, Carolyn, and stuffed animals and cards sent by well-wishers and fellow students at William S. Hart High School in Newhall, Christopher appeared badly scabbed on his face and arms.

But despite Christopher’s burns, Dr. A. Richard Grossman, medical director of the burn center, told reporters that the boy was being upgraded from serious to fair condition and may be able to return to school by February.

Christopher was one of two Hart High students injured Nov. 25 in a physics experiment that involved firing tennis balls from improvised cannons propelled by exploding methanol, or wood alcohol. One of the cannons blew up, enveloping several students in a cloud of burning alcohol.

Christopher was rushed to the burn center in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns over 35% of his body.

Christopher, a popular Hart High soccer player, has undergone seven operations to strip away infected flesh and replace it with skin from his scalp, back and legs. The teenager also underwent procedures to repair damage to his windpipe from inhaling the burning gas.

A classmate, Nolan LeMar, 17, also treated at the hospital for serious burns, was released two weeks ago.

Despite damage to his vocal cords, Christopher has regained the ability to speak through exhaled breaths.

“He talked for the first time two days ago,” Grossman said. “He talks to nurses; he talks with his father. He talks about what he’d like to eat.”

Carolyn and George James said their son, who was shielded from the full impact of his injuries by heavy pain medication for the first two weeks after the accident, is now struggling to come to grips with his injuries.

It’s “been a roller-coaster ride,” George James said. “The up moments are really great, and the down moments are terrible.”

Carolyn James said her son was still in a lot of pain but was optimistic about his recovery.

“His grace has been amazing,” she said. “He’ll actually turn out to be stronger and better for all he’s been through.”

The couple declined to comment on whether they would file a lawsuit against the teacher who set up the experiment or the William S. Hart Union School District.

Hospital officials said they had set up a fund to receive contributions to help Christopher with his future medical bills. The funds will be funneled from the hospital directly to the James family without administrative fees.