#FeatureStory College ClassAssignment

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Feature Story Assignment

Would you be able to survive a fire? Justin was forced to find out the answer firsthand after an explosion in his home that caused a fire. He was in his freshman year of highschool at the time. Justin and his family smelled gas the night of fire. The odor seemed to be coming from the garage and Justin’s parents went down to check it out. The children ran down after their parents, due to being curious about where they were going, when suddenly there was a bright flash. The explosion, and subsequent fire, gave Justin multiple severe burns and collapsed his lungs. Doctors were forced to put him in a medically induced coma for two months so they could fix his lungs. Justin was also given skin grafts to heal the burns from the fire. He still has the scars and some bald spots to this day. When Justin was finally awoken from the medical coma, he was forced to go through physical therapy to learn how to walk again. It was estimated by doctors that it would take two months for him to do so. Justin managed to complete the rehabilitation in only one month. He also had to visit therapists to help him deal with the trauma. The tragedy further gave Justin a more realist, cynical view of the world. Though it’s not all entirely bleak. Justin has said that since it happened he’s largely dealt with the trauma from the event and it’s now something he’s able to freely talk about and discuss. And it’s also given him a desire to do volunteering, so he can help others going through hard times.