Fireworks victim is stabilizing

Bridger Hunt is still in serious condition at Primary Children's Medical Center. But the doctors say his condition is stable, according to spokeswoman Bonnie Midget.

Bridger, 11, of Orem, was riding his bike near his grandparents' Lehi home July 24 when he was struck by debris from homemade fireworks ignited 10 yards away. He was taken by helicopter to the Salt Lake hospital, where doctors have been working to save first his life and now his leg.

Doctors have had to make cuts on his lower legs to keep tissue from strangling because of swelling. The cuts relieve the pressure until the swelling goes down enough to close them.

Doctors have begun to awaken Bridger from his medically induced coma so they can begin to gauge the damage to his nerves. The medications used to induce the coma take some time to exit the body, so he is still groggy, Midget said.

Friends of the Hunt family are hosting a fundraiser next Thursday from 7-9 p.m. to help assist the family with Bridger's medical costs. The event will be at Bonneville Park, 1450 N. 800 West, Orem, where there will be a silent auction, food and carnival games.

For more information, contact Debbie Richan at dkrichan@comcast.net. If people are planning to sponsor their own fundraisers, Richan asks that she be contacted for coordination purposes.