Community rallies around burn victim

While 9-year-old Amber Newton spends her days at Harborview Hospital recuperating from life-threatening burns she suffered when she stepped too close to the family’s gas stove on Jan. 19, people in Rathdrum are continuing to find ways to help support the spunky little girl and her family.

According to her mother, Lori Newton, Amber is “doing OK,” but still has a lot of healing to do. “She is walking now … well, she prefers to run,” she said, adding that it’s challenging to keep track of her daughter since she began regaining her mobility. Although recuperation from the burns that covered 50 percent of Amber’s body is slow and she has painful limitations, Newton said Amber maintains a positive outlook, and “stays busy listening to country music on her DVD player, reading and playing a few computer games now and then.”

A couple of weeks ago, Amber’s third-grade teacher, Mark Worthen, stopped by to drop off her Valentine’s Day cards and visit with her during a trip to Seattle. After a long wait while Amber’s wounds were cleaned and re-wrapped, Worthen finally was able to see her. “She was in pain, but still in good spirits,” he said. He was tickled to see “she has the same little smile she always had” and by her first words to him, “Mr. Worthen, who’s watching the class?”

During his wait for her, Worthen said it was like being in a zoo because of all the stuffed animals sitting on every available surface in her room. He said John Brown Elementary School students and staff and others in the community have been sending cards, letters, stuffed animals, balloons, books and best wishes since the accident happened nearly two months ago.

Students at the school are also contributing to the first annual Blake Web Pot O’Gold Penny Drive. The family of Web, a seventh-grader who died a year ago from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident, began the fundraiser to help another family touched by tragedy. All proceeds this year will go to Amber’s family. “They’re doing this to help raise money and to help ease somebody else’s burden,” said Worthen.

Shortly after Amber’s accident, one of the firefighters who responded to the call, Northern Lakes Fire Department fireman Chris Larsen, joined the school in setting up a benefit account for Amber at Panhandle State Bank. He and other firefighters placed donation jars around Rathdrum and Hayden and have continued to work toward involving the community in helping Amber and her family.

When Salon TLC owner, Tina Pluid, heard about Amber’s accident, she also decided she wanted to do something.

“Amber was one of my clients, and, when I saw her picture, I just said this was something I was going to do,” she said recently.

That “something” is a raffle to be held at Salon TLC on Friday at 5 p.m. Raffle items include an antique, German wall clock donated by Warren Clark. The clock has an estimated value of about $500, and has been serviced to top working condition. Other donations include an oil painting of horses by TJ Pluid, a pasta basket donated by Panhandle State Bank, and two $55 gift certificates from Salon TLC. Raffle tickets sell for $5 each and are available at Salon TLC, The Rathdrum Star office and at Northern Lakes Fire Department.

Amber still faces a long recovery. Despite the fact she is regaining her mobility, her arms are still in splints and she cannot feed herself. She has undergone several surgeries to use skin grafts from her legs and scalp to rebuild wounds on her torso, and goes through a painful daily regimen of having her burns cleaned and redressed. The hardship on her family continues as she and her mother face at least two more months in Seattle, while the rest of her family continues to live and work in Rathdrum.

You can help by purchasing a raffle ticket for tomorrow’s raffle, contributing to one of the collection cans scattered around town or by sending donations to one of the Panhandle State Bank or Intermountain Community Bank accounts established for Amber Newton. All proceeds will go to help Amber’s family with expenses. Send cards to Amber Newton, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104.