After a bad burn, young girl undergoes several surgeries
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Faith George

While camping at Pismo Beach last month after Thanksgiving, Adam George’s 22-month-old daughter, Faith, fell into the family’s campfire, severely burning her hand.

George’s wife, Amber, and Faith had gone out to sit by the fire to relax after dinner. Faith walked a few feet away from her parents to get a toy. On her way back she tripped and fell, her left hand straight down into the blaze.

George snatched the little girl up and swatted out the flames on her jacket, but his quick response didn’t prevent first-, second- and third-degree burns on both sides of the girl’s hands.

The toddler was hospitalized for about a month at the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, where she endured several surgeries to save the use of her hand.

Doctors took skin from Faith’s scalp for grafts on her hand. “It seems cruel in the beginning, but there is a good reason,” said George.

The procedure appears traumatic because there are bare patches of skin on the toddler’s head, but her hair will regrow, George said. “They only take the first layer, and the hair roots are in the third layer, so it grows again,” the father said.

As of Dec. 20, Faith had had four surgeries. She developed an infection after the first transplant, which included grafting some artificial skin.

“We’re expecting a full recovery,” said George, a Moorpark resident who grew up in Agoura Hills.

George has set up a website, www.pleasehelpfaith.com, to keep friends and family posted on his little girl’s progress and to raise funds to cover the health insurance deductible and outofpocket expenses the family must pay.

“We have been amazed by the outpouring of love and support we’ve received from friends, family and even complete strangers from all around the country,” said George, who attends Christian Church of the Hills in Agoura Hills. His website contains details

about Faith’s accident and her hospital stay and recovery. Pictures are plentiful as well—George is a professional photographer who works at Brandes Portraiture in Westlake Village.

“While we’ve been very fortunate and had many donations that will cover the 2006 expenses, the new year will reset all the outofpocket expenses,” George said.

The studio will host a fundraising portrait event Jan. 5 and 6 to benefit the Circle of Care Foundation, which supports Grossman Burn Center, and to help pay Faith’s ongoing medical expenses.

“I will be the photographer for all of these portrait sittings,” George said. Details about next month’s event can be found at blog.brandesportrait.com.