Boy wants tombstones for his parent's graves

It was one of Tulsa's deadliest house fires. Only one person survived the blaze, a little boy, who's now nine years old. <br><br>He has one wish, a wish that's heartbreaking in its simplicity

Monday, September 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

It was one of Tulsa's deadliest house fires. Only one person survived the blaze, a little boy, who's now nine years old.

He has one wish, a wish that's heartbreaking in its simplicity and borne out of deep sadness. The News on Six crime reporter Lori Fullbright has the story. This was five-year-old Andrew Deeter and his little brother Joshua, active, healthy, curious little boys, until one terrible day in March 1998. Andrew had been playing with a cigarette lighter and set his home on fire, his pregnant mother, his father and baby brother all died.

Andrew had terrible burns. Johnny Ward, Andrew's uncle: "From his waist up, he had third degree burns. He looked like a piece of coal, that's how black he was. And, he's had graft after graft after graft, over 100 surgeries." Andrew still has surgeries to help repair the damage; his most recent one helped him have a fuller head of hair. He'll require many more, yet he keeps a positive attitude. "He's on the honor roll, good grades. And, he wants to be a plastic surgeon so he can help other little kids like him."

Andrew is already helping other kids, he's quick to tell them what caused his injuries and they shouldn't play with matches. "I tell them they shouldnâ€™t play with fire because it's very dangerous." Despite his successes, Andrew suffers a deep sadness over the loss of his family and wrestles with guilt over his role in the deaths.

Andrew is so thankful for all that people have done for him, the awards from firefighters, the surgeries from Shriners and even the people who donated cemetery plots and caskets for his family. He would ask though for one more kindness, for headstones for his family's graves. The graves are unmarked because the family couldn't afford headstones, and the lack of them weighs heavily on the little boy's mind. "That way I could go down there and know where they are."

Andrew would like to go to the graves and talk to his parents, to tell them he's sorry and that he loves them, but, finds it hard do when there's nothing to mark their final resting place except for grass.

Andrew and his Uncle mow grass to save a little each month toward the $3,500 needed, but, at that rate, it could take years more to get the headstones.