Treehouse Therapy - Giving Beyond the Fireline

Healing Help: BLM Smokejumpers’ Treehouse TherapyStory by Jessica Gardetto, Public Affairs Specialist
Photos by Todd Jinkins, BLM Smokejumper

This past fall, a Boise BLM Smokejumper's five year old son, Maximo Wyatt, was struck by a car while riding his bike. The boy was pinned under the vehicle and dragged a short way, causing him to sustain critical injuries; he had to be hospitalized for almost two months, with numerous surgeries, skin grafts, and burn treatments. The Boise community rallied to help the boy and his parents, who both work for the BLM, by organizing a fundraiser, book drive, and other supportive events. 

BLM Smokejumpers built Maximo a treehouse to help him heal from his injuries.

When Max was about to return home, the Boise BLM Smokejumpers wanted to do something special for him. His mother noted that Max will need to spend a significant amount of time stretching his arms over his head to promote healing from his skin grafts, so the smokejumpers decided to build him a treehouse. He had always wanted one, so it seemed a fitting surprise for his homecoming, plus treehouse play promotes climbing, just the type of exercise that he needs.

The beginning of the treehouse construction

The jumpers worked over several weekends to build the boy a treehouse in his yard, without him or his father knowing. When the family returned home after Thanksgiving, the smokejumpers had finished the 128 square foot, two-floored treehouse. It is definitely a sight to behold with a ladder, sliding pole, windows, and a door.

A good number of smokejumpers helped wit the project, which made its quick construction feasible.

The Boise Fire Department picked Max and his father up at the airport, driving them home in their fire engine. The boy was ecstatic because not every five year old is able to ride in a fire engine, lights blazing, to his own house. When they arrived at home, Max found the treehouse all lit up with Christmas lights and immediately began playing in it. Max is very happy with the treehouse and so are his parents.

A kid's dream treehouse with glass windows, a door and a deck

Though he still has a long recovery, the Boise Smokejumpers and the rest of the BLM community are wishing Max a swift healing process -- plus a lot of fun-filled hours spent in his new deluxe treehouse.

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Originally posted in the BLM Daily, December 29, 2015.