9-Year-Old Heads Home After Over 600 Days In Hospital

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A true medical miracle happened right here in Baltimore. Severely injured in a fire, 9-year-old Reese Burdette spent over 600 days recovering at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, but now she's finally returning to her life.

WJZ's Denise Koch has the story of a very brave little girl and the doctors and nurses who refused to let her die.

Memorial Day weekend 2014: terrifying moments for Reese Burdette. A fire broke out at her grandparents' home as she slept. Reese suffered burns over one-third of her body but her worst injuries are those you cannot see. Severe smoke inhalation devastated her lungs and heart.

At first, she was rushed to a local hospital, but when doctors realized how serious her injuries were, she was airlifted to Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

"I've never seen anything like this," said Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Director Dr. Luca Vricella.

When Reese arrived at Hopkins, the fight for her life began. Doctors immediately realized saving her would be one of the toughest challenges they've ever faced.

"We tried therapies with her that we've never tried in burn patients before and they were really just life-saving, last-ditch efforts," said Pediatric Trauma and Burn Program Director Dr. Dylan Stewart.

For nearly two years, Reese called Hopkins home. And the entire time she was there, her parents Justin and Claire told WJZ she never spent one second alone.

"Even for the almost four months that Reese was asleep, someone was here every single day," said her father, Justin Burdette.

Six hundred and sixty two days in intensive car---the longest stay of any young patient in the PICU---the fact that Reese is alive today is a miracle. And it's not just because of several medical breakthroughs---it's also because her doctors and nurses went to great lengths to heal her not only physically, but also emotionally.

"We're reporting this case to the scientific community as an extraordinary case of support," Vricella said.

Reese's battle to live was exhausting. Countless surgeries and procedures wore her down and, at one point, her doctors feared she lost her will to fight. That called for drastic measures, something never done before at the hospital: they brought Reese's dairy cow, Pantene, all the way from her family farm to Baltimore---and it worked!

Now it's finally time for Reese to say goodbye to her Hopkins family. It's bittersweet.

"I will absolutely miss her but we'll keep in touch. We are linked forever," said Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Director Dr. Kristen Nelson.

It is a homecoming like no other for Reese and now, even with a tough road ahead, her future is bright.

"I told her that because of her strength and her will to work, she's going to be a very special child. She already is a special child and touched many, many lives," said her mom, Claire Burdette.

Reese is back home in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania---which is right over the Maryland line---and she is getting stronger every day.

WJZ will continue to keep you updated on Reese's recovery.