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Photo by Jim Craven The Kenton family has moved into a rental home in Medford thanks to the generosity of people who responded to their plight when the twins were burned in an explosion. From left are Tyler, 19 months; Brenda; Wyatt, 4; Jeff; and Ryan, 19 months. Donors rally to aid twins' family Boys, burned in explosion, have new rental home By JULIE SWENSEN A family with twin toddlers who were burned in a motor home explosion earlier this month has moved into a rental home with the help of generous citizens. Tyler and Ryan Kenton, both 19 months old, were burned Feb. 3 when a furnace exploded in their motor home in Talent. They and their 4-year-old brother, Wyatt, and their parents, Jeff and Brenda Kenton, had been living in the loaned motorhome until a tax refund arrived and they could rent a house. When the blast occurred, the family was left without housing and wondered what they would do next. But this week, they moved into a two-bedroom home off Crater Lake Avenue on Roberts Road. Jeff Kenton said that without the donations they'd received, it would have been two or three months before they'd have been able to move in. Kenton isn't sure how much the donations totaled, but roughly estimated a couple of thousand dollars had come in. As they stayed at a motel room provided by the Red Cross, at least 30 or 40 people came by with donations. "I didn't know any of them," he said. The Central Point Rotary Club, churches and individuals were among the donors. One person gave them $800 cash; a couple of people gave $500. Others gave $25 here, $50 there. People brought Legos, cars and trucks, stuffed animals and books for the boys. Among others who helped, Larson's Superstores gave the family a new 27-inch television, and the family got free meals at Denny's restaurant. Affordable Used Cars set aside payments on the couple's two cars. "They said, `Take care of your family. Worry about us later,"' said Kenton, who is self-employed in repossessing cars. Even the World Wrestling Federation got wind of the situation and is giving 4-year-old Wyatt a ringside seat to an April 16 match in Vancouver, Wash. Wyatt's a big fan and will get to meet his heroes, wrestlers "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Mick Foley. "He's just thrilled to death," Kenton said. The twins suffered first- and second-degree burns in the blast, and bandages were taken off their hands a few days ago. Kenton said he didn't know if they'll recover completely; they have scarring on their hands at their finger joints, and if the scars get thick, "their fingers might not work right," he said. Ryan will have minor scarring on his face and neck, his father said. The family was headed today to a burn center at Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Calif., where their relatives live, to have the twins' hands examined. Kenton said he hopes to get back to work soon, but said it's a two-person job right now to take care of the twins. His wife is a student at Rogue Community College. The couple, who have no medical insurance, have $30,000 in medical bills to pay, with more on the way. A trust fund set up at Washington Mutual Bank has about $1,000 in it, Kenton said. The Kentons claim that a repairman from Scotty's RV worked on the motor home's furnace before the blast occurred, and they've hired an attorney to pursue the claim and try to recoup medical costs. The RV business told the newspaper that no work had been done on the motor home. Despite the medical bills, Kenton remains thankful his sons are alive, and he wants to thank the public for everything they did. "To be living in a community that cares so much for somebody they don't even know ... in 1999, you wouldn't think you'd see that," he said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA