Caleb Halvorson, a 26-year-old firefighter in Fort Worth, Texas, suffered severe injuries when a garage collapsed on him while battling a house fire on September 3. Despite the trauma and multiple surgeries, Halvorson’s determination to survive for his family, especially his newborn son, has kept him fighting through his recovery.
What Happened
On September 3, Caleb Halvorson was responding to a house fire in Fort Worth when he was trapped under heavy roof debris. The collapse left him with second and third-degree burns on his back, legs, hands, and face, as well as serious knee injuries. His wife, Haley Halvorson, said he remained awake and conscious during the ordeal, recalling the intense pain and the feeling of being on fire.
“He’s told me he thought he was going to die,” Haley said. Despite the severity of his injuries, Caleb never lost consciousness and was fully aware of the pain he was enduring. His mother, Alisha Cook, expressed her fears, recalling her thoughts when she learned of her son’s condition: “All you can think is like, God please, please don’t let him die.”
The Road to Recovery
Caleb was immediately transported to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where he underwent multiple surgeries, with more likely to follow as he continues his recovery in the burn unit. His family has been by his side throughout this challenging journey, with his mom describing the pain of watching her son suffer: “Watching my son suffer, watching him cry.” Despite the excruciating pain, Caleb’s will to live is driven by his desire to be with his son, who was born prematurely at 27 weeks, weighing just 1 pound 9 ounces.
“I need to get to my son in the hospital. I can’t go right now,” Caleb told his wife, Haley, when he regained some strength. His son, now 7 pounds and breathing on his own, is making significant progress, and Caleb hopes to be reunited with him at home soon.
A New Chapter for the Halvorson Family
While Caleb’s recovery continues, the Halvorson family is making adjustments to their home to accommodate his recovery needs, including making the house wheelchair-friendly. “The whole house is basically getting changed to accommodate for him when originally we were like trying to accommodate for a baby,” Haley said with a smile, referencing their newborn son’s premature birth.
Despite the pain of his burns and the physical challenges ahead, Caleb remains determined to return to firefighting. His stepdad, Bobby Cook, a fellow Fort Worth firefighter, remains optimistic, saying, “I tell him he will. He will. We’ll get you the help you need.”
A Miraculous Survival
The Fort Worth Fire Department has called Caleb’s survival “nothing short of miraculous,” and his family agrees. While still in significant pain, Caleb’s recovery continues to progress, and he is in good spirits. “The burns get a bit less painful every day,” Haley said, expressing gratitude that the situation wasn’t worse. “We will get back to a normal life eventually,” she added, focusing on the positive future ahead.
Public Support and Gratitude
The Halvorson family has been overwhelmed by the support they’ve received from the firefighter community and the public. Haley shared, “It’s kind of more than we ever thought we could receive. Kind of restored our faith in humanity a little bit.”
The Halvorsons and their families expressed their heartfelt thanks to the firefighting community and the public for their overwhelming support during this difficult time, which has helped them through the recovery process.
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This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
