Another Setback For Family Of Catoosa Dad Injured Saving Son From House Fire

As a Catoosa dad clings to life after saving his son from a burning house, the family has been hit with yet another hurdle. They say someone got a hold of their Red Cross debit card number.

Thursday, April 25th 2013, 5:44 pm

By: News On 6


As a Catoosa dad clings to life after saving his son from a burning house, the family has been hit with yet another hurdle.

They say someone got a hold of their Red Cross debit card number and is stealing their money.

"It's the coldest thing I've ever heard of," said Margaret Armstrong.

Armstrong has spent the past few days at her son, James Girdner's, bedside.

Girdner, who goes by "Scooby," ran inside his burning house to save his 9-year-old son.

Scooby was fine immediately after the rescue, but because he inhaled too much smoke, he started having trouble breathing and had to be hospitalized.

4/22/2013 Related Story: Catoosa Dad Clings To Life After Rescuing Son From House Fire

He's now in a medically induced coma.

"He's hooked up to all kind of machines. He's on a breathing machine that's breathing for him," Armstrong said. "It's heart-wrenching. It rips my heart out."

After a fire, the Red Cross gives families debit cards to help with essentials, like hotel rooms, clothes and food.

Armstrong said the Red Cross called the family Wednesday to let them know someone who's claiming to be Scooby's daughter has been using their $700 card.

"I just can't understand why people would do these sick things. My son has nothing and they want to take this little something that they got, and take that away also," Armstrong said.

The Red Cross said the debit card number remained secure and the third party did not have that information. A spokesperson said once the agency became aware of a potential issue, the Red Cross deactivated the first card and provided a new one to the family as a precautionary measure.

The Red Cross released this statement saying:

"The first priority for the Red Cross always is the people we are assisting. When we became aware of this situation, we took immediate steps to protect the family as well as the Red Cross. We have turned the matter over to our national headquarters for investigation and are continuing assist and support the family locally."

"They've been really good. I don't know what they would have done without them," Armstrong said.

She said she doesn't know the woman or how she got the Red Cross card number.

Meanwhile, Armstrong said her son had a minor set back Wednesday, but doctors say he has recovered from that. She said doctors tell her they'll begin to wake him up from his coma within the next few days.

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