Brave little boy who is scarred for life (From The Northern Echo)

Brave little boy who is scarred for life

8:01am Tuesday 11th August 2009 in

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Brave Daniel Mitchard-Harrison is scarred for life after suffering horrendous injuries after his pyjama bottoms caught fire. Lauren Pyrah reports.

LOOKING at Daniel Mitchard-Harrison, with his blond hair, blue eyes and cheeky smile, it is hard to believe the youngster has been through such a devastating ordeal.

For only two years ago, Daniel, who turns five next week, suffered horrendous injuries and will be scarred for life after the pyjama bottoms he was wearing caught fire.

The brave youngster spent almost seven weeks in hospital, undergoing skin grafts and a blood transfusion.

His ordeal also inspired The Northern Echo’s Protect Our Children campaign, which sought to change the law governing children’s pyjamas.

Two years on, Daniel has started school and is like any other normal four-year-old.

But there are lasting consequences to his ordeal.

Speaking from their home in Dalton, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Daniel’s mother, Liza, said: “He still has bad nightmares every now and again. He has to have creams applied to his legs anything up to ten times a day, as the scar tissue tends to get dry very quickly. He also has to wear pressure garments, which he finds uncomfortable.

“He’s got quite a big percentage of scars and they’re still quite thick and visible.”

Despite this, Daniel, who will have to apply cream to his legs daily for the rest of his life, has remained positive.

“He doesn’t know anything different. He was only two when it happened, so as far as he is concerned, that is what his legs have always looked like,” she said. “If anything, he’s quite proud of it.

“He does remember what happened. He knows how the scars got there. If anything, it seems to have made him fearless of everything.

“In the first year, he had really bad nightmares. He was not sleeping well and had nightmares all the time.

“He has come on leaps and bounds. He has done really well. I am so proud of him.”