Jennifer Matthews: Stroking a key is a simple task. For sixteen-year-old Humberto Hernandez it's a huge accomplishment. 80% of Humberto's body is covered with burns. The accident happened when he was playing with a bottle that had gas in it.
Humberto Hernandez: I took the bottle and when I threw it, it exploded, something, and I noticed the liquid fell over my body.
Jennifer Matthews: It was a terrifying time for humberto's mother.
Guillermina Hernandez: They told me that he had no chance to survive.
Dr. Arny Ferrando: You'd be surprised, the simplest things in life that you take for granted are very tough for a burn patient.
Jennifer Matthews: Researcher Arny Ferrando studies ways to improve life for burn victims.
Dr. Arny Ferrando: The fact that you can take somebody and allow them to be more self-sufficient means everything in the world to them.
Jennifer Matthews: The problem is burns stop the production of testosterone. Studies show injections of the hormone lead to a quicker recovery.
Dr. Arny Ferrando: I would say within two to three weeks that it's fairly noticeable that they start putting on weight.
And they also start to gain muscle. Humberto has gained enough strength to even exercise.
Guillermina Hernandez: I feel desperate at times, but I feel happy also when I see that he's improving.
Jennifer Matthews: Humberto and his mom know he still has a long way to go. But he is on his way. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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