Burned Campbell County boy faces long recovery

It has been a painful month for 8-year-old Cody Cantrell, filled with hospital visits and delicate medical procedures.

"It just really hurts really bad, it just hurts really bad," Cody said.

On Sept. 8, Cody was at his great-grandparents' house, where his older brother had started a fire in a garbage can.

Cody went looking for his brother, and didn't see a gasoline jug sitting near the fire.

He tripped, dousing himself with gasoline. That's when a nearby burning piece of trash sent flames shooting up the lower half of his body.

"I thought I was gonna die, yeah, I did," Cody said. "I thought I was gonna die, I really did."

Cody ran across the yard, shouting for help, until his 17-year-old cousin, Brittany Johnson, spotted him. She pushed him to the ground and ripped off his burning shorts and shoes.

Cody's entire right leg was badly burned, so his uncle, Sammy Nelson, rushed the little boy to a local hospital. Soon, he was off to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he spent several weeks receiving painful treatments on his right leg and equally painful skin grafts on his left.

When he was finally released, Cody went home for just a day when a high fever sent him right back.

This week, home for the second time, he's hoping it will be the last. Still, he has a long two years of recovery ahead.

It's a recovery that already has his mother, Kisha, marveling.

"Every day is something new that is amazing," she said. "When I watch him get up to do something and just walk that couple steps, that is amazing, and I can't wait to see what's next."

However, while Kisha has been happy to see her son's recovery, she's been struggling to pay the bills.

Because she is a single mother, she had to give up her job to stay home and care for Cody.

Every four hours, Cody's bandages must be changed. He also needs help to take his medicine.

An area Catholic church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, took up a donation that has eased some of the trouble, but Kisha says she's in need of much more.

To help, you can contact her at (865) 406-4289.