Dave Schoeppler of Carson City got the phone call Friday that no father wants to get - his daughter was near death in a Canadian hospital with burns over 90 percent of her body.
Melisa Savoie, 23, carried her lit cigarette into the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, garage Thursday night where her husband was working on a car, priming a carburetor with gasoline.
Mel Savoie had just warned Melisa to get back when a flames shot through the garage. Two explosions followed, possibly from the acetylene and oxygen tanks of a welding rig.
Melisa ran from the burning garage and neighbors rolled her in the grass to put out the flames.
"When I got to Saskatoon Friday night, she was still in the hospital there. There wasn't room in the nearest burn center yet," Schoeppler said Tuesday after returning to Carson City. "Saturday, they flew her to the Edmonton university Hospital Burn Center in Edmonton, Alberta.
"When I saw her, she must have had 15 IVs in her. She saw me and told me she loves me.
"I was told I need to be strong for her, but every time I was in the room with her, I cried," said Schoeppler, who owns Star Realty in Carson City. "It wasn't good for her to see that, so I came back."
Schoeppler said Melisa's doctor told the family that she has about a 10 percent chance of surviving her injuries. When a family member asked whether they should just ask that life support be removed, the doctor said that the 10 percent chance was enough to keep hoping, and that he would do everything he could to return her to normal.
Tuesday, Melisa was listed in critical but stable condition after undergoing 11 hours of surgery Monday to receive skin grafts on her back and lower neck, according to longtime friend Lianna Istace.
The burn center is known as one of the best, Schoeppler said, and it appeared to have the facilities to do everything possible for his daughter, who was born in Carson City and raised in Saskatchewan.
Mel, who had just celebrated his fifth wedding anniversary with Melisa, was not injured physically in the blast but is in deep shock, Schoeppler said.
"This is just devastating to the town and everyone who knows her," he said, adding that Melisa loves music and is known for her performances around Saskatoon.
"She's like a celebrity. You get these people that sparkle and shine and just light up the room - that's her. She automatically draws people and love and attention," he said.
"Now that I'm home, I'm seeking the support of a prayer circle to pray for Melisa," he said. He said anyone wanting information on the prayer circle should call Patti Picard at 883-8623 or Gene Cleveland at 887-1110.
You can help:
For information about a prayer circle for Melisa, call 883-8623 or 887-1110.
You can help:
For information about a prayer circle for Melisa, call 883-8623 or 887-1110.