The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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July 29, 2011

Tad Voges picking up his life (and a bat)

By Dan Nienaber The Free Press

COURTLAND — It’s been months since Tad Voges has been has been able to step up to the plate and enjoy playing a game of baseball, but Friday morning he was able to take the first step toward a hopeful return to the diamond.

Voges had to give up his position on a town ball team this year after he was severely burned Oct. 15. He was enjoying a campfire with some friends when one of the people he was with decided it to toss some paint thinner on the fire.

“The fire went up the can and the can exploded,” Voges said. “Most of the paint thinner ended up on me. My legs were on fire. I was able to get my pants off, but by then it was too late.”

The guy with the can was burned too, but nowhere near as badly.

Voges, 19, spent the next 10 weeks in the hospital, getting out in time to spend Christmas with his family. His recovery wasn’t over, however. He still has to change dressings that cover the areas where he was burned the worst.

“This morning I went to a batting cage for the first time and hit some balls,” he said Friday. “It was better than I thought it would be, except that it was hot out. It felt good. I’m glad I can do it again.”

He’s also planning to start classes at South Central College again this fall. He was two months into a semester when he was burned, but he’s planning to just start over studying agricultural business.

Voges said his father is also happy to have him helping around their Courtland farm again. A busy brother and some friends had to help with harvest and planting this year.

The incident resulted in a legal settlement announced Friday by attorney Nick Frentz of Frentz & Frentz Law Offices in Mankato. Insurance agencies representing the property owner where Voges was burned and the man who poured the paint thinner on the fire agreed to pay $620,000 in damages, Frentz said.

Voges said much of the money he receives will go toward medical bills. There will be some money left over to help with college costs and other things.

The incident also has shown him the importance of giving blood. He needed eight units of blood while he was receiving initial treatment in a burn unit. So he will join others an American Red Cross blood drive in Nicollet next week.

“I see why it’s important,” Voges said. “My cousin gives blood whenever he can. I’m going to start doing that, too.”

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