March 4, 2004

Rudy Reyes, October Firestorm Victim Goes Home

By Eileen Callahan

Rudy Reyes, the first patient brought to UCSD Regional Burn Center during the San Diego County wildfires, who was burned over more than 65 percent of his body, was discharged March 3, 2004, from the burn center. After 129 days in the hospital, 18 surgeries, and 130 therapy sessions, Rudy will return to his home near the Barona Indian Reservation to live with his mother and brother in a new trailer until their new home is built.

The UCSD Regional Burn Center treated 23 patients from last fall's wildfires with burns ranging from 11 to 85 percent. None of these burn patients died. The patients ranged in ages from 11 years to 79. More than 120 square feet of donor skin from Lifesharing Community Organ and Tissue Donation was used to treat the patients. The average person requires only 18 square feet of skin to cover the body from head to toe.

Media Contact: Eileen Callahan (619) 543-6163