WTHR |Burn victim's mother: "I'm in shock."

Burn victim's mother: "I'm in shock."

Cat Andersen/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - The mother of a young burn victim says her son has been upgraded to stable condition Thursday.

Kim Struck's seven-year-old son Jason suffered burns to 40 percent of his body after police say a teen kicked a can of burning gasoline at him Wednesday afternoon.

Struck told reporters Thursday that her son underwent surgery. It is likely to be the first of many to repair the damage from second- and third-degree burns to his face, hands and chest.

Struck said it was hard to see her son wrapped from head to torso.

"I'm in shock. I've been numb ever since. When you see your kid on fire and having to be put out - I've been in shock ever since. It's hard for me to sleep," Struck said. She added that she has been by Jason's side since he was hurt, and that he didn't want her to leave his bedside even for the few minutes she spoke to reporters.

"I'm not gonna leave until he does. He just wants me to stay. He didn't even want me to come down here," she said.

Jason was having trouble breathing which doctors say could be caused by swelling around the airway from his chest burns or from actual damage to the airway from inhaling the hot vapors coming off of his own body.

A day later, Strunk says Jason can barely talk or hear her.

"He's wrapped up in bandages dow to his waist for his own protection," Strunk said.

She also said doctors have told her it will be at least Sunday before they know the extent of Jason's injuries. "We really can't tell that until the swelling goes down what kind of damage is left."

Officers say a group of boys were playing with fire on Olive Street Wednesday when it happened.

"His shirt was melted onto his skin. It was so bad," said Tena Hubbard, witness.

"We just started a regular fire in a fire pit and the boy down the street came with a thing of gasoline. And then he was pouring it in the fire pit and then he poured it in a can," said Anthony Hubbard, an 11-year-old witness whose actions, doctors say, may have saved the young victim's life.

Anthony says he never planned to be a hero, but he stepped up when it counted.

"I didn't want to see him die in my backyard," said Anthony.

It happened fast, but Anthony will never forget watching his seven-year-old neighbor catch fire.

"I just jumped the fence. He ran over here he fell and I was putting him out right here," said Anthony. "I was putting him out like that. It was just my first instinct to do that I didn't even know what to think."

It's an instinct Kimberly Strunk is thankful this young boy had for Jason's sake.

"He literally made the difference between life and death," she said.

Police say the 13-year-old who bought the gas has been charged with a felony count of criminal recklessness.

"The number one thing you have to ask is what was his intent. Was it accidental or was it done purposefully? I think when the investigators began to speak with witnesses on the scene they determined that this was done on purpose. This was an intentional act. And that's where the criminal recklessness came in. I think the D count felony was because of the nature of the injuries and the intent of the suspect to do bodily harm," said Officer Chris Wilburn, IMPD.

Paramedics on scene said 40 percent of the seven-years-old's body was covered with second- and third-degree burns. Doctors who specialize in treating burn victims say third-degree burns can only be hidden by reconstructive surgeries.

"It never looks the same. It can get close but it never looks the same," said Dr. Rajiv Sood, medical director, Wishard Hospital Burn Unit.

The boy's breathing troubles are concerning to doctors, who say that a seven-year-old's lungs are still developing.

"They can have permanent lung damage if they have a bad enough lung damage during their initial burn," said Dr. Sood.

The 13-year-old accused of kicking the can is being held at Marion County's juvenile detention facility.

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