AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -
Gabriel Stephens, 10, clings to life
as he rests in a medical coma at Doctors Hospital.
"On the way on the plane here, I thought he was
going to die," said Gabriel's mother, Jihui.
When Jihui Stephens brought her young son
to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital about a week and a half
ago, she was told to prepare for the worst.
Gabriel suffers from the rare and
deadly Stevens Johnson syndrome. The skin disease is usually the result of a
drug reaction. In Gabriel's case, he had an allergic reaction to medication
which caused severe burning on the inside of his young body.
But there is a bright spot in his
hospital room, a corner full of Christmas gifts and a Christmas tree from the Burn Center staff and anonymous donors.
"Just getting stuff like that
helps us," Jihui, said.
The gifts came from strangers and even
Santa lifted spirits when he made a stop in Gabriel's room on Christmas day.
Even though they're spending this
holiday season far from their family in Mississippi, Stephens says the support
and care Gabriel has received at the Burn Center has given her hope.
Stephens has another cause for hope, Gabriel's
condition is improving.
"Just watching him get healed
that's the biggest present I can get," said Stephens.
Doctors hope to ease Gabriel out of the medical coma next
week.
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