Travis Clyde’s world changed forever the day a welding explosion burned him to the bone, fractured his skull and left him clinging to life.
A month removed from the devastating accident, the 47-year-old Jeffrey City, Wyoming, husband and father of five is recovering and trying to get a grasp on the new reality of his life.
The welding mishap left him with third- and fourth-degree burns to his hand, arm and face.
Clyde’s recovery is just beginning, and initial estimates about how long he will need to remain hospitalized will be shortened if his progress continues, said Clyde’s sister-in-law, Gloria Anderson of Pavillion.
“Right now, he is in therapy, and obviously still in a lot of pain, but they are trying to wean him off the medication,” she said. “He is responding to the surgeries that he’s had, the skin grafts and all, and they think he may be out sooner than anticipated.”
Anderson said Clyde and her sister, Mindy, have five children — a boy and four girls.
The explosion happened as he was welding a tank about 2 p.m. on July 18. Because of his head injuries, Clyde cannot recall exactly what happened.
Clyde’s son and one of his daughters found him about five hours later at their home northeast of Jeffrey City.
Clyde was put in a pickup and the family drove him to a Sweetwater County ambulance at its station about 20 minutes from their home, Anderson said.
An ambulance ride to the emergency room at SageWest Health Care in Lander resulted in an assessment that determined he needed to be airlifted to the University of Utah’s Intermountain Burn Center in Salt Lake City.
“He sustained burns on his face, arm, abdomen and thigh,” Anderson said. “Some areas worse than others.”
NOTE: Photos are graphic.
Travis Clyde, left, runs cattle in the Red Desert area. He was severely burned as he was welding a tank at on his Jeffrey City property on July 18. (Courtesy Clyde Family) 
As part of his recovery from severe burns, Travis Clyde’s family reports he has had three surgeries. (Courtesy Clyde Family) 
Travis Clyde’s hand on July 18 after being life-flighted to the University of Utah Burn Center. (Courtesy Clyde Family) 
Travis Clyde suffered third- and fourth-degree burns as a result of the July 18th explosion. (Courtesy Clyde Family) 
Travis Clyde continues to undergo therapy and treatment at the University of Utah Burn Center. (Courtesy Google Earth)
Three Surgeries
Clyde has had three surgeries so far during his stay and received skin grafts on about 15% of his burns using skin from his own body.
He also is battling infections that doctors have described as “common” for burn victims, she said.
“They are pulling him off of a lot of the heavy medications they have him on to ease the pain,” Anderson said. “They’ve got him on a therapy routine that he is working on.”
Clyde is self-employed and runs cattle in the Red Desert and Bison Basin areas, she said.
Anderson added she doesn’t know if his family has health insurance, but if they do, she doesn’t think it would cover all his bills.
A Facebook fundraiser page describes Clyde and his family as hardworking “and some of the most generous people out there.”
“They’re always willing to help anyone in need, and now they need our help,” the post states.
The page has raised $50,000 so far toward a goal of $100,000 to help the family with travel costs between Salt Lake City and Jeffrey City and to help offset medical bills and other needs while Clyde cannot work.
Anderson said she expects her brother-in-law to recover, but the extent of his recovery is not yet known. He is “expected” to be back to a more normal life in a year’s time, doctors have told the family.
“He is kind, hardworking and very willing to help people just on a whim,” she said. “They don’t typically like to take handouts from other people. They like to give and not take. They are just a really good family.”
The family characterizes Clyde’s medical team as “amazing,” and that team is considering releasing Clyde back to his home in early September if he continues to progress.
The Clydes share that they want to thank all those who have prayed and contributed during their time of need.
“They are beyond grateful,” Anderson said.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
