News, Weather and Sports for Sioux City, IA: KCAU-TV.com8 Year Old Burn Victim Wants To Give Back

8 Year Old Burn Victim Wants To Give Back

By, Aaron Adelson

Aadelson@kcautv.com

Twitter: @aadelsonkcau

A Siouxland boy almost died when he became engulfed in flames while trying to light a camp fire.

More than a third of Daniel Jarabek's body was burned when he was 7.  Now, he's holding a fundraiser to help the people who helped him recover.

Daniel's holding a Birthday party Sunday, but instead of gifts, he wants people to make donations to the Shriners.

That's because about a year and a half ago, Daniel was covered in bug spray on a humid night.  He went to light a camp fire, and then... 

"He just poof.  He caught on fire.  He was so close, and with the gas.  Like I said, there was no flame, and it just kind of smoldered, and when it went, it just went so quick," said Daniel Fredericksen, Jarabek's Dad.

He suffered third degree burns all over his body, and Daniel says he doesn't remember everything that happened.

"It hurt a lot.  The dog licked me," said Jarabek. 

Daniel originally went to the hospital in Lincoln, NE, but then the Sioux City Shriners picked up the tab to send him to one of their children's hospitals with a burn unit in Cincinnati.

"Through a community network, there was a Shriner that became aware of the situation with Daniel, and knew that he could help the kid and help the family through this tragedy, and so we were glad to be able to do so," said David Krogh, Chief Rabban Abu Bekr Shriners.

So, this weekend Daniel will hold a party with the hopes of giving back.

Many local businesses are making donations, and the family will auction off those items hoping to raise $5,000.

The idea began with Daniel wanting to donate his piggy bank to the Shriners.

"It was really his idea.  It's something for him to think about his piggy bank, because he's saved it for so long and it ain't much, but for him to wanna give it to somebody that helped him? That is a good thought, and I hope more people give too,"

Daniel will need medical care for the next 15 years because of his burns, but he still enjoys the outdoors.