NPC road director on the mend in Seattle

Nez Perce County Road Director Mark Ridinger has been steadily recovering at a Seattle hospital from severe burns he received last month, and may even be home for Christmas.

"I'm getting better every day, and I'm walking right now," Ridinger said by phone Thursday from the burn unit at Harborview Medical Center. "I've done about four or five laps, and 20 laps makes a mile. I'm just trying to get the strength up in my legs and doing things like that."

Ridinger suffered second- and third-degree burns over 37 percent of his body Nov. 9 after a fuel container he was holding exploded as he was pouring diesel on a fire at a hunting camp near Deary.

Lynn Ridinger said her husband is under intense therapy to maintain the skin grafts surgeons applied to the burned areas, including stretching exercises and other physical activity. Mark Ridinger has been so diligent and self-motivated with his therapy that doctors don't think he will need a coach when they release him from the hospital, she said.

He also has his wounds redressed every day, which does have some downsides.

"It's very uncomfortable," Lynn Ridinger said. "But they have to keep him clean and infection free."

Mark Ridinger has lost some weight due to the incident, but Lynn Ridinger said he is eating well and keeping up his strength.

"He's kind of turned a corner," she said. "He still needs quite a bit of healing, but (his caregivers) are so impressed by his progress every day."

If the good news continues, Mark Ridinger probably won't have to undergo any more major procedures like skin grafts, she said.

The Red Cross has organized a blood drive in Mark Ridinger's honor from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 31 in the fellowship hall of the Lewiston Congregational-Presbyterian Church, according to donor recruiter representative Karen Parvin. Mark Ridinger has given 11 gallons of blood through 88 separate donations over the past 35 years, and the staff at the Lewiston donor center wanted to recognize his contributions.

The drive is organized by Nez Perce County, the church, and the Cornerstone Christian School where Lynn Ridinger teaches first grade. Parvin said the Red Cross can only schedule 35 donors for the event, and those slots will probably be taken in advance by members of the sponsoring organizations.

But the general public is invited to stop by the event to show support for Mark Ridinger and sign a card and poster for him, she said. And people can always commit to donate blood at another time, or fill in if there are any cancellations or open time slots.

Mark Ridinger's voice swelled with emotion when he talked about the blood drive.

"I thought that was very, very special," he said. "It's unbelievable how much people care for you, and you don't realize it."

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Mills may be contacted at jmills@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2266.