Burn Unit Releases Teenager

Just 37 days after a botched physics experiment exploded in his face at a Santa Clarita high school, 17-year-old Chris James walked out of the Grossman Burn Center on Tuesday.

“There was a period of time . . . when I wasn’t sure if Chris was going to survive,” said Dr. Peter H. Grossman, son of the burn center founder. “I wasn’t sure, but Chris was.”

Standing before a throng of well-wishers outside the Sherman Oaks hospital, Chris thanked his many friends, cracked jokes and talked about how the alcohol fire that burned more than 35% of his body taught him strength.

“He’s my hero,” said Carolyn James, Chris’ mother. “He’s learned things in life that most people don’t usually know until they are much older. I never thought he could handle that much pain.”

After seven surgeries, 23,000 square centimeters of skin grafts and 38 units of donated blood, doctors say Chris is just starting his ordeal. With several surgeries to come, and possibly lifelong disfigurement to his face, only some of his future challenges will be physical.

A handsome, popular athlete, Chris was burned the day before Thanksgiving at Hart High School during a senior physics class experiment on the trajectory of flying objects.

The experiment was supervised by first-year teacher Thomas Magee, who instructed the class to shoot tennis balls out of two cannons made of apple juice cans and propelled by an explosive chamber charged with methanol.

One cannon exploded in Chris’ face, setting him and classmate Nolan LeMar, 17, aflame in a nearly invisible chemical fire.

The blast almost killed Chris and injured Nolan less severely. The William S. Hart School District immediately banned experiments utilizing flammable materials, and local agencies launched investigations of the incident.

On Tuesday, Chris emerged from the hospital to the cheers of his family and friends. Stiffly moving past a gantlet of reporters, Chris bowed his head, hiding his face behind the bill of his Los Angeles City Fire Department cap.

Once at a podium, however, he looked straight into the news cameras and spoke--a remarkable feat since his vocal cords and windpipe were severely burned when he inhaled the scorching vapors.

Nervous at first, Chris thanked his family and friends, especially Jessie Honea, his classmate who smothered the flames with a sweatshirt.

“He probably saved my life,” Chris said.

The youth said he also was surprised at the outpouring of community support: four blood drives, prayer meetings at two local churches, and meals cooked and delivered to his family by local restaurants, friends and strangers.

“I didn’t think they liked me,” Chris joked. “I guess they do.”

While praising the youth’s fortitude, Grossman said Chris’ struggle is just beginning. His life will not be the same. There will be physical therapy sessions, reconstructive surgeries, many of which may not be covered by the family’s health insurance, hospital sources said. Perhaps worst of all will be the psychic trauma caused by his facial scars.

“It’s going to be hard for him the first time he goes to school,” said Chris’ grandmother, Joanne Webberley. “He’ll think about how he was before the accident, how good he looked.”

Grossman said burn victims often must overcome the prejudices of a society that places undue emphasis on physical appearance.

As for Chris, he said he is looking forward to returning to school.

The first thing he plans to do when he gets home, he said, is to throw a party to bring in the new year.

A fund has been established to help cover Chris’ treatment. Donations may be sent to Sherman Oaks Hospital Foundation--Chris James Fund, care of Sherman Oaks Hospital, 4929 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.