RAPID CITY, S.D. – A 24-year-old Lead woman who is 17 weeks pregnant is recovering at a Saint Paul, Minnesota, hospital after sustaining severe burns in a propane explosion on August 1.
Ruth (Bryan) Baus was preparing a cabin for rent when a spark from a microwave ignited a propane leak, causing a major blast that damaged the structure of the building. Campers nearby heard the explosion and came to her aid. Baus was taken by ambulance and then life-flighted to Regions Hospital, which has one of the country’s top burn units.
According to a GoFundMe page established by her family, Ruth suffered burns to 48% to 50% of her body. The baby is doing well, but Ruth faces a long recovery, with doctors estimating a three-month hospital stay.
Since the incident, Baus has undergone multiple surgeries. The first was a recell procedure on her legs, which used a liquefied form of healthy tissue to promote skin regeneration. Her second surgery was a six-hour process to remove damaged tissue from her arms and hands, which were then covered with cadaver skin. Her third surgery replaced the cadaver skin with a skin substitute in preparation for permanent skin grafts.
The fundraiser was organized to ease the financial burden on the family so Baus, who is married to her husband, Cale, can focus on her healing and pregnancy.