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OFFICE: (912) 537-9203
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WVOP: (912) 537-9202
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Sometimes life takes you in a different direction than you planned and it was such a turning point in one man’s life that it brought him to Vidalia and Toombs County High Schools Tuesday morning to share his motivational story with the students.

Dennis Gardin, Executive Director of the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation doesn’t call a horrendous gasoline explosion that happened to him when he was 14 an “accident” but rather and “incident.”

As a teenager, he defied his parents warning not to work on his dirt bike. He and some friends began working on the bike near a water heater with an open flame and the combination of the open flame and the gasoline ignited, causing Gardin to be be burned over 70 percent of his body and a friend 20 percent.

Gardin spent weeks in intensive care with his family not knowing if he was going to live or die. In all h spent 8 months in the hospital, underwent 50 surgeries and for another two years after being dismissed, he isolated himself in his family’s home. Finally, Gardin said he could either let his situation define HIM or he could let it be a stepping stone for a successful life. He chose the latter.

The burn victim received tutoring at his home after his hospital stay, and did return to high school for his senior year where he put positivity into action and came in second in his senior class to become class President and he graduated in the Top 10 percent of his graduating class.

Gardin’s motivational speech Tuesday morning at Vidalia High School brought several students to the stage afterwards to show him some love and tell him that what he had to say had definitely made an impact on their own situations.

The Georgia Firefighters burn Foundation emphasizes fire safety and prevention, and survivor support. Vidalia Fire Chief Brian Sikes said the local fire department is partnering with the Foundation and are working on several programs and initiatives that he will be ready to announce at a later date.

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