By By Lisa Tindell – news writer
Tori Wyatt will be home for Christmas.
That simple statement has one East Brewton family counting their blessings this holiday season.
Tori, along with her father Joey, was injured in an explosion Friday afternoon that sent the pair to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola by LifeFlight. Tori was then transferred to UAB Children's Hospital in Birmingham. Wyatt was discharged from Sacred Heart in order to accompany his daughter to the Birmingham facility.
Joey Wyatt is also recovering from the incident and has begun a treatment of antibiotics and creams to treat his burns and to ward off any infections that are common with burn victims.
The two members of the Wyatt family were injured at a scrap yard on County Road 19 in the McClellan community of Friday. Early reports indicated that Wyatt was among workers welding on a tank at the time incident.
However, reports from Wyatt, as well as other family members, have proven that to be a statement made in error.
Sources said Wyatt was a customer at the yard when the incident occurred.
An unidentified man was welding, out of view from others at the yard, when the explosion of the tank occurred.
Roberts Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the flames. Baptist Hospital's LifeFlight arrived on the scene and transported the victims to Pensacola hospitals for treatment.
Wyatt suffered first-degree burns over a portion of his body while Tori's burns were classified as second degree.
Doctors monitored Tori's injuries and initially expected that surgery would be necessary.
The news that Tori would be home for Christmas made more people happy than just family members.
Students in Nalty's class gathered markers, crayons and paper together Monday and prepared personal get-well messages to be delivered to Tori in Birmingham.
Mrs. Nalty and her students have a banner displayed in the room bearing the message &#8220all we want for Christmas is for Tori to get well soon.”
Although doctors have told the family that Tori would be released from the hospital in time for Christmas, an exact release date isn't yet known.