A 19-year-old lost his right hand in a Fourth of July fireworks accident while attempting to keep two little children safe.
“I always heard the horror stories, ‘Stay away from the fireworks; you’ll blow your hand off.'” “That’s exactly what happened,” Ryli Baumgartner explained.
Baumgartner’s tale is different. He was at a family friend’s Fourth of July gathering, where they were lighting fireworks. He claimed that someone present was inebriated and hurled a sparkler bomb.
“As soon as I saw them light it and toss it a few feet in front of them, I was instantly scared and thought as soon as this thing goes off, they’re blind or dead,” Baumgartner told me.
Baumgartner stated that two little children ran toward the fireworks. He then leaped into action, grabbing the lit firecracker, which detonated in his hand.
“I went to throw it, and as soon as I got there, boom, and I looked down, and there was nothing,” recalled Baumgartner.
Medical personnel took him to Harborview Medical Center, where surgeons had to amputate his injured right hand. He also got burns on his body.
“I put myself in front of it because I’d rather it be me than anyone else,” she stated.
After five days, the hospital released him, and he is just beginning his recovery.
“I need to learn to fully stretch my arm because if I don’t, I risk losing full mobility in it.” It will take a while for my brain to realize there is no hand there,” Baumgartner explained.
Baumgartner’s life is permanently changed. Doctors have told him he will be unable to work for the next two months.
“I called for a job, and I work as a lifeguard.” I cannot perform CPR without a hand. “I can’t swim well with one hand,” Baumgartner explained.
Baumgartner said he enjoys working with his hands and helping others, and the injury is taking a physical and emotional toll.
“I’m at home, and everyone is taking care of me, which I find annoying.” I want to be able to care for myself and stand up without pain. “I want to be able to tie my pants and my shoes,” Baumgartner explained.
He also has a message regarding fireworks.
According to Baumgartner, “When it comes down to it, it’s not safe, and it’s that split second that’s going to change someone’s life.”
He mentioned one thing that is helping him get through the agony.
“Knowing the kids are okay is the only thing keeping me going,” Baumgartner remarked. He hopes to be able to receive a prosthetic hand and will need years of physical treatment.
His family organized an online fundraiser to help with his recuperation expenses.
