Community Launches Fundraisers for Parkville Burn Victim

When Parkville resident Nicholas Hamel, 20, attended a Halloween Party, Oct. 31, at a friend's house in Glen Arm, he couldn't know that his choice of Ace Ventura as a costume would play a major role in his survival.

Today Nick, a student at CCBC, is at Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center recovering from a fire pit accident that resulted in burns to 60 percent of his body.

On Halloween, Nick donned his father's boots with the promise he'd return them. He slathered wax in his hair to replicate the Ace Ventura look. Kristen Hamel, Nick's mother said, "Ron, [his father], let him borrow [the boots] with a warning: 'Make sure you bring them home and I get them back.'" The boots protected Nick's feet from being burned worse.

Details about what happened at that Halloween party differ. According to Jonathan Herron, a childhood friend of Nick Hamel, between 15 and 20 friends were around a fire pit in the driveway of a Glen Arm home. Some were playing with remote control cars and as the fire died down, someone added fuel from the cars to re-start the fire. Some of the liquid splashed onto Nick Hamel and his body was engulfed quickly in flames.

His father's boots mitigated the injuries to his ankles and feet. The wax in his hair slowed down the burning of his scalp. Someone needs to track down Ace Ventura and thank him.

The Hamel family, was told to expect weeks and months of recovery for Nick. As of Dec. 10, Nick has undergone six operations to repair physical damage. Doctors have used skin from unharmed parts of the body to graft onto the areas burned in by the accident, said Sheri Serio, a family friend.

Serio got the call about Nick's accident. "When the phone rings that early, you know something is wrong," she said.

While the doctors speak of a long recovery for Nick, Serio remembers hearing it was all "touch and go" those first days. It wasn't weeks or months to recover. Then, Serio said, "he was living hour to hour."

On Dec. 8, Kristen said her son had walked 15 steps on the treadmill. "When he doesn't feel he can do more, he reaches from within and pushes a little further. He is making us proud each day." 

Life must go on for the Hamel family —  Ron Hamel runs his own construction business and both he and and Kristen try to maintain as much normalcy as possible in the home while running back and forth to the hospital, reading to Nick and conferring with doctors.

According to Serio, the community has taken on some of the mundane chores. Recently a group of women descended on the Hamel house to spit shine it in preparation for Christmas.

A meal train is in effect: anyone who can provide dinner for the family is asked to sign up for a day. A cooler is left on the front porch so the family members aren't disturbed. Serio said that people have volunteered through January to provide meals. 

"The food has been great, you are spoiling us but we appreciate it and really don't know how the kids would eat some days," said Kristen Hamel.

Serio pointed out that parking fees for two parents traveling to and from the hospital constantly are exorbitant. When Nick comes home he'll need adaptable clothing and special devices to help him get around; fundraisers give the family a lifeline.

Right after the accident, Jonathan Herron held a 50/50 raffle. The winner of that raffle, Rich Shaw, donated the entire winnings back to the family, according to Herron.

Friends, neighbors and friends the family has never met have rallied around Nick and the Hamel family to make their lives as normal as is possible during what is one of the most horrific events a family could face.

While the holidays are coming fast, they ask that you take time out of your holiday shopping to stop in for one of the many fundraising events listed below.

Dec. 13, 15 & 16: Valley View Inn Fundraiser.

Dec.19: Team Nick Bull Roast (SOLD OUT) –To donate items for the silent auction, email BullRoast@Prayfornickhamel.com

Jan. 9: Flapjack Fundraisers  at Applebee's on LaSalle Rd. in Towson. Contact mlessner1212@yahoo.com.  

Jan. 28: Team Nick Cosmic Bowling at the Perry Hall Lanes.  9:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

To see upcoming events or to find out more about what you can do to help, check out the site www.prayfornickhamel.com or look find the "Pray for Nick Hamel" page Facebook. Both are updated as new fundraisers are added.