SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Spring Hill father who saved his son from a burning home continues to recover at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The family lost everything but the clothes on their backs in the early morning fire that occurred on Aug. 25. However, they are grateful to be alive and equally appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from the community and local businesses.

News 2 spoke with Ashley Rorer Tuesday morning at VUMC, where she has spent every day with her husband, Brandon, 36, who was critically injured by smoke and flames.

News 2 obtained bodycam video of the August incident, which shows first responders rushing to the neighborhood and arriving to find the Rorer family shaken, but alive on the front lawn.

"There was so much smoke and heat, I couldn't breathe," recalled Ashley.

Ashley, Brandon, their two children — 7-year-old Silas and 3-year-old Millie— and their dogs made it out alive.

As seen on video, first responders ask the family how many people sustained burns and later learn that Brandon risked his own life to save his 7-year-old son, who was lost inside the inferno.

"I had to run upstairs to get my son," Brandon told crews at the scene. "Pure adrenaline kicked in."

On Tuesday, Ashley's described her husband's actions as "absolutely amazing."

"He is absolutely amazing. I think any dad would do that for their kids," she said. "He did what I couldn't, and I tried two or three times. He put his life on the line to get our son out. It was absolutely amazing."

The mother of two recalled the horrifying moments just after the dining room window cracked, waking the family to the blaze. She added at first she thought the noise was due to a home invader, but when she went downstairs, she quickly saw smoke and flames.

While her husband attempted to extinguish the blaze, she gathered important documents, cellphones and her children.

"When I hit the top of the stairs, I had both kids. Then, when I made it to the front door to get out, I only had Millie," Ashley told News 2.

She said she got Millie to the garage and then tried to go back upstairs to find Silas. However, the 7-year-old reportedly told her that he was scared to go downstairs with her because of the heat and flames.

"I went up two or three more times. I couldn't get to him. I kept trying to get him to come to me and he wouldn't," recalled Ashley. "So I went back down for a breath and that's when Brandon came back through the kitchen. He came down for a breath and said, 'Do we have everyone?' And I said, 'No, Silas.' And he went back up to try and get him."

"At that point I heard Brandon calling for Silas, and then Silas would reply. He'd call for Silas. He would reply. Then at one point he called for Silas and he didn't reply. So i started panicking," she continued.

By the time first responders arrived, Ashley said she saw her husband and son, adding Brandon collapsed on the front lawn partially from exhaustion and smoke inhalation.

Since the morning of the fire, she has been at the hospital and told News 2 that she feels the love from the community.

"I didn't realize how big our family was, and it is not just blood, it's our community, it is local churches, it is stores and it's restaurants and the team here," Ashley expressed.

Silas sustained burns but has since been treated and release. She added that her daughter suffered no injuries from the fire.

Meanwhile, Ashley said Brandon sustained burns to 9% of his body, from his head to his shoulder. In addition, his lungs were severely injured and the first week at VUMC was described as "touch and go." However, Ashley told News 2 that the staff has been amazing and her husband is on the road to recovery.

"There's so much encouragement here from the team," she said. "He strolls around and they cheer for him. It's incredible."

Plans are reportedly being made to hopefully move Brandon to a inpatient rehab facility where he can work on OT, PT and speech therapy.

If you would like to donate to a GoFundMe to support the family, follow this link.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/he-is-absolutely-amazing-spring-hill-father-continues-to-recover-after-saving-son-from-house-fire/