Gwinnett Co. Boy Alfred Real Gets Experimental Burn Treatment

A Gwinnett County boy is now getting an experimental procedure to repair his skin after he was severely bued last month. Alfred Real was bued over 80-percent of his body when he and a friend lit a toy on fire.

He's now at Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati with his parents by his side, and they are hopeful about his future.

"We heard the yelling after the fact and ran out immediately to see what was wrong, and were shocked to see that our son had been horribly bued, said Alfred’s mom.

In an instant, the 8-year-old boy’s life changed forever. His parent hope a procedure that is being allowed by the FDA will give him a new chance at life.

"It's in the lab now and we'll know within 24-48 hours if there was any problem with the donor site," said Alfred’s dad.

The procedure uses some of Alfred’s skin that wasn’t bued to grow new skin.

”It takes about three weeks, they say, I think to get a size of a sheet of paper, his father said.

At first, the procedure was halted by the FDA because of a question over patient data. But the administration has since reversed its decision over patient data, granting what’s called a compassionate use request.

"It will test his patience, his mom said. ”He's a mover and a shaker so, he's already asked to go outside."

Alfred’s parents and his baby brother Jasper are by his side in Cincinnati. He is expected to be there for months.

His parents say they are very thankful to their friends in Georgia for their support, and they ask everyone to keep him in their prayers.