The 10-year-old Kalispell boy struck in the face by fireworks in Hungry Horse July 4 has undergone surgery in Spokane and may be heading home as soon as this weekend.

Doctors at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital on Monday used four plates to put six pieces of Caleb Kingery’s sinus cavity and forehead back together, repairing an injury they told his mother is very rare.

“They’re all saying that this is the kind of break they don’t ever see,” Monica Kingery said. “They were pretty amazed with it and how lucky he is. They’ve all said that his glasses basically saved his eyes but saved him, too. The neurologist said he could have very easily been killed.”

The right side of Caleb’s face was injured the worst. His right eyebrow had to be repaired where the breaks went down behind his eye. In addition, the retina in Caleb’s right eye was detached, an injury for which he is scheduled to have laser surgery today.

There are no other surgeries currently scheduled for Caleb.

The ear, nose and throat doctor “told me if his sinuses do not function later, they’ll have to go back in and repair it,” Kingery said. “But right now he’s healing nicely. He’s been getting up and walking, he’s just a little sore.”

As for when Caleb can be released from the hospital, signs are very positive.

“It depends on when he can get the wrap off and then how the eye surgery goes, but they’re saying as early as Friday,” Kingery said. “We just have to make sure there’s somewhere he can get his staples out on Monday. They haven’t really given me a set plan yet because there are so many different doctors involved.”

During his stay at the hospital, Caleb has been treated by the floor pediatrician; an ear, nose and throat specialist; a neurologist; an ophthalmologist; an occupational therapist and a physical therapist.  

“This is a great hospital,” she said. “I have nothing bad to say about it at all. They’re very tuned into children, for sure, and helping the families that are here.”

Although the distance from Kalispell has kept the number of visitors for Caleb low, Kingery said a man from a church in the area who was visiting family on Flathead Lake read about Caleb in the newspaper and has since been visiting Caleb, praying with him and even giving him a gift of $20.

“It’s just amazing the support we’ve had from strangers, along with friends and family,” she said.

Kingery said her son initially planned to go watch fireworks next year.

“But after this surgery, he said he doesn’t want to go to them ever again,” she said. “I don’t want to be around them; I don’t want my children to be around them. They’re dangerous and people are careless. And things like this can happen anywhere, not just Hungry Horse. People need to be cautious.”

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.