David Beal is still fighting for his life after being burned over 80 percent of his body when the east Denver house he was painting exploded in flames.
The husband and father, whose chances of survival were estimated at 5 to 10 percent, has had three surgeries since the accident happened two weeks ago and is “actually doing OK,” said his wife, Elena.
He is expected to remain in the Burn Trauma Intensive Care Unit at University of Colorado Hospital for three to four months.
Beal, 50, was painting the basement of a rental house in the 14600 block of East 43rd Avenue that is owned by his parents, said Elena’s sister, Kee Muncaster. An initial investigation showed he was painting with oil-based paint, and it ignited.
“The house was in a shambles after (the renter) left,” Muncaster said. “My sister and David were there cleaning up and getting it ready to rent again.”
His teenage sons — Jaxson , 13, and Jeffrey , 15 — usually went with David to work on the house, but on that night, plans had changed.
“They had a church function,” Muncaster said. “It was a lucky thing.”
The boys were at a youth-group meeting at Celebration Community Church, 1650 S. Birch St., which the family attends regularly.
“They’ve been with us about five years,” said Pastor Steve Garcia. “They live in the neighborhood.”
Church members have started a fund to help cover expenses for the family, which does not have medical insurance, and they have organized a schedule to deliver home-cooked dinners to the family.
David Beal, an avid cyclist, is especially close to his sons, spending as much time with them as possible. They have biked hundreds of miles together.
They all went to the USA Pro-Cycling Challenge, just to see how the pros did it.
The accident represents a new challenge.
“They’ve seen their father once,” Muncaster said. “It’s pretty hard to take. I had a vision in my head of what it would be like, but it’s not even close to what I thought. I’ve been in shock from the pictures I’ve seen. It’s a horrible, horrible thing.”
In the past two weeks, Beal has had three surgeries, where the burned skin is scraped off so healing can begin.
The first two surgeries took five hours each: one for his arms, another for his back. Late Monday, another surgery was done on his hands and legs.
“Doctors have him on antibiotics fighting an infection,” Elena said in a post on her Facebook page.
Manuel Martinez, a close friend who attends the same church, is working to fulfill the contracts of David Beal’s remodeling business and delivers groceries when he can afford it.
“He’s got a lot of love for his family,” Martinez said. “He’s a good-hearted guy.”
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
To contribute
Those who wish to contribute to the David Beal Fund can send checks to the church the family attends, with “David Beal” in the memo field: Celebration Community Church, 1650 S. Birch St., Denver, CO 80222. 303-756-4994
