As a volunteer fireman for 36 years, Steven Hoglin knew he was in trouble immediately following a transformer explosion at work on April 30.
"Right after the explosion, I thought to myself having seen this before, 'Steve, you're not in good shape,'"
But owing to his personal commitment and a remarkable outpouring of support from the community, his recovery is heading in a positive direction.
This week, Steven and his wife, Elaine, took a moment to extend their heartfelt thanks to those that are helping them along the path to recovery.
"All I can say is everybody has been super to me and my family," said Steven. "Absolutely great."
Elaine and Steven described a "miracle at our house," when dedicated friends and family descended upon their home to complete a renovation project Steven had been working on before the accident. Efforts launched by the Board of Public Utilities and area churches helped to cover the costs of travel for the Hoglin family, as they visited Steven at ECMC over the course of two months.
Steven said he was under the care of the burn center from April 30 until the beginning of June. He spent a few more weeks in rehabilitation before he was discharged from the Buffalo facility on June 30 - a residency of exactly two months.
Now he spends his summer going to Jones Hill Memorial Health Center three day a week. During each session, he said an hour of physical therapy helps stretch and strengthen his limbs, which had large areas of third degree burns. Then he attends occupation therapy, which focuses on a special condition in his left elbow.
Leaving the clinic behind, he also walks about three miles everyday. Steven said his physical therapist gave him the nod to drop down to one session each week since he is progressing on his own.
Looking ahead, he is positive about his recovery and hopes to return to his job at the BPU.
"That's the plan," Steven said. "I'm doing whatever I can to push myself within reasonable limits."
