GRESHAM, Ore. — A Gresham firefighter continues to heal after getting critically injured while fighting a duplex fire two months ago – and is finally off life support and preparing for his seventh and final surgery.
Spencer Tejedas was among a team of firefighters responding to a blaze at a duplex on Southeast 182nd on May 30 when he was caught in a flashover, “where everything in the structure catches on fire all at one time.”
Firefighters had entered the building when a woman at the home claimed her son was inside, which turned out to be untrue. The fire was later confirmed to have been started by an unattended candle.
Tejedas suffered burns on more than 45 percent of his body – injuries that the fire chief described as the worst he’d seen in a 41-year-long career.
On Friday, August 2 a blood donation drive will be held in Tejedas’ honor. Blood donations helped save his life after the accident, and the Gresham Fire Department says the drive is a tangible way for the community to impact Spencer’s recovery and show up for the Tejedas family during this difficult time.
Ahead of the drive, Tejedas’ wife gave an update on his condition.
In a press release, she said he is now off life support and will hopefully undergo his seventh and final surgery next week.
SEE ALSO: Gresham firefighter remains in critical condition from May 30th flashover fire
“While there have been challenges and setbacks, we are very encouraged by the significant progress he has made in recent weeks. He is more awake, aware, and very motivated to get better. He has an incredible, dedicated team of surgeons, doctors and nurses at Legacy Emanuel that have worked tirelessly to heal him,” she continued.
“Even at his worst, Spencer greets his care team every day with smiles, gratitude, and patience, which simply speaks to the kind of person he is. His doctors frequently comment that Spencer’s drive and motivation will make all the difference in his recovery. Knowing how strong he is both mentally and physically, we have no doubt that he will beat all the odds and surpass any goals set for him.”
After 8.5 weeks of hospitalization, Tejedas was finally able to FaceTime the couple’s boys (1 and 4) for the first time, she added. His family said they are holding on to these small wins and beautiful moments for now.
“It’s impossible to put into words how much the outpouring of support and kindness from the community has meant to our family during this unimaginable time. We want to thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for caring about us– some of you we are close to, but many of you are complete strangers, and there is so much beauty in that. We feel completely wrapped up in love, which has given us the strength to move forward,” Tejedas’ wife said.
If you are able, the Gresham Fire Department and Firefighter Tejedas’ family ask that you consider donating blood in his honor at the Aug. 2 blood drive at Gresham City Hall.
To schedule an appointment, you can visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter the sponsor code: GreshamFD.