Every year , Marcus Le and his mother enjoy their family tradition of picking lychee in Wahiawa - when it ’ s in season .
Last summer was no different , except this time while picking the sweet white fruit , Marcus was electrocuted by a nearby powerline . The electricity ran through his body and knocked him out . With his ankle locked onto the ladder , he hung from 34 feet above the ground . Marcus regained consciousness and came down the ladder . The 40-year-old was then taken by ambulance to the Burn Center at Straub Medical Center
It was at Straub that Marcus learned the extent of his injuries .
“ The electric current went through both my hands and exited out of seven places on my body , leaving third-degree burns on my hands , abdomen and legs ,” he explained . “ Many doctors and nurses helped monitor me around the clock for 48 hours to make sure I was all right .”
The road to recovery would be a long one for Marcus . He spent the next six weeks in the Straub Intensive Care Unit and underwent four surgeries . “ When I first arrived in the emergency room , the Straub team was super amazing . They
took such great care of me and kept everything under control , which made me feel at ease and confident that I was in good hands . I can assure the community that the staff will always treat them well .”
Marcus still has scars from the treatment on his hands .
This year , the Straub Burn Center celebrates 35 years of providing specialized care for burn patients . As the only burn center in Hawai ‘ i and the Pacific Region , it plays a critical role in serving patients close to home . The team provides advanced burn and wound care for victims of thermal , electrical and chemical burns , as well as severe skin diseases and any condition that requires skin grafting .
Since its inception in 1983 , the Burn Center has treated more than 1,000 patients .
“ Burn injuries are unique in so many ways ,” Dr . Robert Schulz , co-founder and director of the Burn Center , explained . “ Within 24 hours , the physiologic changes brought on by the burned skin become potentially lethal . The bacterial barrier and thermoregulation is lost , toxic products from the burn lead to vascular changes that require very large amounts of IV fluid . If not provided , the blood pressure will drop to shock levels and kidney function will be lost . At that point , recovery from the burn injury becomes much more difficult . Before the Straub Burn Center was established , critical burn patients were transferred to the mainland further delaying urgent treatment .”
Burn injuries also require a highly coordinated , integrated , multidisciplinary team approach . " After initial resuscitation , the burns have to be washed daily by nurses specifically trained with pain management and burn dressing changes ,” Dr . Schulz said . “ Physical and occupational therapists work to protect patients from loss of motion and strength . Social workers have to deal with everything from loss of family members to rehabilitation after discharge . Dietary consultation becomes
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