Don Osteen was used to putting his life in danger for others. The grandfather from Maud, Oklahoma, was a Purple Heart recipient and didn't hesitate when it came to saving his granddaughter's life. Osteen and his 3-year-old granddaughter, Paetyn, were having lunch together when a gas leak caused an explosion in his home. As the house went up in flames, the grandfather didn't think twice before risking his life to save hers. Sadly, the veteran was fatally injured.
The fire broke out on September 19, after Osteen reportedly tried to light a candle near the stove.
The Army veteran was about 15 to 30 feet away from the door when the gas leak explosion happened, and his son, Brendon Osteen, told People that his father immediately jumped into action. As the roof start to crumble onto Paetyn, the grandfather dove to grab her from the flames.Â
âHe just got out of the house, and headed straight towards where he knew help was,â Brendon told the magazine. âHe tried to get in his truck and his keys were melted to him. His phone was exploded in his pocket.â
Although the grandfather managed to get both himself and his granddaughter out of the house, both suffered serious injuries.
Don Osteen's wife, Anita, found the pair on the front pasture of the family's property, according to KFOR. The grandfather had carried Paetyn a quarter of a mile and up a steep driveway to safety, even managing to place the girl in the shade once they made it outside.Â
Osteen had somehow performed the task, even while suffering from a collapsed lung, broken ribs, and severe burns.
âHe wasnât worried about himself at all,â his son explained. âIâll leave it at that, but âSave herâ is [the] message he was trying to get across, and he did exactly that.â
Both Osteen and his granddaughter were taken by helicopter to Integris Paul Silverstein Burn Center in Oklahoma City, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition, with burns on 70 percent of his body. Meanwhile, Paetyn was taken to the pediatric intensive care unit, suffering from burns covering 30 percent of her body.
Unfortunately, despite his heroic efforts, Osteen was not able recover from his injuries and died September 23.
In a poignant post on his Facebook page, Brendon Osteen shared the news.
"He was surrounded by a large group of his favorite people for his last five days," he wrote on the day his father died. "He knew that he did his job by saving the life of his Boo Boo Chicken. He loved my daughter beyond unconditionally."
For now, Paetyn continues to recover in the PICU, as her family prays for her to come home soon.
"We ask that you please continue to pray for Paetyn as she is still recovering in the PICU," Osteen's daughter-in-law, Jamie Moore, wrote on a fundraising page set up for the family. "She is doing well and healing much better than we anticipated. The doctors are very pleased with her progress but she still has a long way to go."
And in a September 24 Facebook post, Brendon shared the happy update that his daughter's progress so far has been impressive.Â
"Doctors are saying they canât believe the progress sheâs made so fast as a toddler with her severity of burns," he wrote. "This little girl is so strong and fights so hard to cooperate whenever the nurses come in messing with her. We all can only imagine how much hurt she is dealing with physically and mentally."
The dad concluded his update with a touching reminder to never take loved ones for granted.Â
"Our hearts are so full today and I think I can speak on behalf of my family and say that this little girl will forever hold a new special place in all of our lives as a living testimony of the ultimate sacrifice for love," he wrote. "Hug your families today everybody."
"[My dad] was happy on his way to heaven and I hope that brings all of you who knew him and loved him personally to peace with his passing," Brendon wrote in another post.
"Rest In Peace Daddio. Youâre a hero."
