Jared Callan was attending a Halloween party Oct. 31 when the sleeve of his costume came in contact with a candle.
HARRISON TWP. -- A boy injured when his Halloween costume caught fire is back home and continuing his recovery.
Jared Callan is back home in Harrison Township after being treated for serious burns in a Halloween mishap. (Submitted photo)Seven-year-old Jared Callan was attending a Halloween party Oct. 31 when the sleeve of his costume came in contact with a candle.
He suffered second- and third-degree burns over 35 percent of his body.
A Red Cross blood drive will be held in his honor on Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 4-9 p.m. at Pleasant Valley School in Mullica Hill.
Jared was hospitalized for 26 days and had to undergo several skin-graft surgeries and four blood transfusions.
"Jared is an amazing little boy and his parents are some of the most giving people I've ever met," said Amy Kline, longtime Callan family friend and organizer of the blood drive.
Jared's parents, Mike and Selena, are long-time blood donors, Kline added.
After his long hospital stay, Jared is now able to enjoy some of his favorite activities, Kline said.
"He still wears an arm brace but is able to take it off to ride his bike and even rollerblade," Kline noted. "We are not sure when he will be back in school because of the risk of infection but his teacher comes to instruct him at home."
Jared returns to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children three times a week for occupational therapy and stretching.
The blood drive will be held in the school cafeteria, 401 Cedar Road. Appointments to donate are preferred and can be made by contacting Kline via email at AmyO143@yahoo.com or by going online to the Red Cross website.
A GoFundMe page created by neighbors to collect donations for ongoing treatment of Jared's injuries is still collecting funds.Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
