Burn Victim Beats The Odds, Goes Home

If you or someone you know has ever spent time in the hospital, you know there's no place like home. A burn victim is leaving a Tulsa hospital after six months. News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports

Wednesday, September 5th 2007, 3:20 pm

By: News On 6

If you or someone you know has ever spent time in the hospital, you know there's no place like home. A burn victim is leaving a Tulsa hospital after six months. News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports heâ€™s thankful he's alive and finally going home.

John and Nancy Villines have been looking forward to this moment for a long, long time. They've thought about going home every day since John was burned in a fire while working in St. Louis, Oklahoma.

"He was cutting on a gas pipeline, and it was just a freak accident," said Johnâ€™s wife Nancy Villines.

The Seminole resident suffered burns over nearly 70% of his body.

"I wouldn't wish it on nobody. It was tough," burn victim John Villines said.

There were 12 skin graft surgeries, hours of grueling therapy and times when they weren't sure if John would pull through.

"We just didn't know if there would be a light at the end of the tunnel, but there is," Nancy Villines said.

Finally on day 191 in Hillcrest Medical Center, the Villines are about to go home.

"That's plenty for anybody," said John Villines.

"A very emotional day," Nancy Villines said.

An emotional day, because John Villines beat the odds, and although it might be bumpy at times, he's on the road to recovery.

"Given age, percentage of burn, it's amazing. It really is," said burn unit nurse Pasha Brown.

"Just glad to have made it through I guess,â€ John said. â€œThey tell me and I'm sure, that God still has something for me to do."

Villines credits God, the Hillcrest Burn Unit nurses and doctors with saving his life. He promised all of them and himself he would walk out of the hospital on his own. To their cheers and with family and friends nearby he did it. John Villines is headed home.

Villines still faces 18 to 24 months of outpatient therapy, but won't have to have any more skin grafts.

Watch the video: Burn Victim Finally Goes Home