11 Year Old in St. Charles Fire Expected To Make Rapid Recovery

The only survivor of has been upgraded to satisfactory condition and may be released from the Mercy Children's Hospital in the next few days.

Robert Dominic Zwilling, 11, was the only member in his family who was able to jump to safety after a fire spread through his home at 510 Elmhurst Monday morning.

Zwilling's family members, Cameron Gresham, 27, his sister, Maren Gresham, 2, and his mom Lauren Zwilling, 30, died from their injuries earlier this week. His brother Quentin Gresham, 8, died at 1:30 a.m. Thursay morning at Cardinal Glennon Hospital.

Dr. Theodore Sample, a pediatric intensivist at Mercy Children's Hospital, said Zwilling inhaled a lot of smoke and carbon but didn't have any burns or other injuries. A tube that helped him breath was removed on Wednesday and now he's able to eat and speak on his own.

Sample said Zwilling should recover rapidly from the smoke inhalation and shouldn't require long term care.

"He was very lucky to not have any long term significant injuries," Sample said.

Zwilling's father, Robert Mauer, 34, said his son--who he calls "Bobby"--is doing well.

"He's great for what he's been through," said Mauer, 34, who lives in St. Peters.

Mauer said his son could remember everything that happened. He said he heard the smoke alarms going off but thought it was his mother's alarm clock. He realized the house was on fire when his mother came into the room and told him to get out, Mauer said.

Zwilling grabbed a shirt to protect himself and kicked the screen out, he then ran to the door and called to his family members to let them know the window was open.

When he could no longer hear them, he jumped out.

Mauer said Zwilling's mother, Lauren Zwilling, was a great person who did everything she could for her son.

"Obviously they (Zwilling and Gresham) gave their lives trying to save their kids and mine," he said.

Community Support

Mauer, who works as a union laborer for L. Krupp Construction, said for now, he and Zwilling are trying to take it one day at a time. Mauer said his next step will be to bring Zwilling to his house in St. Peters once he's released from the hospital.

Sample said Zwilling has the ability to understand what's happened and will need to support from family and other services to work through it. He said there's no medical reason he shouldn't be able to go back to school.

"In many cases, in patients like this, as soon as they get back to a life that’s close to what to their life was before--same environment, same friends, same locations--they can recover a lot faster," Sample said. 

Mauer said a friend is collecting clothing and other donations for his son at One Way Construction, 4348 Rider Trail North in Earth City.

Monetary donations, which will go toward therapy and other needs for Zwilling, can be made at any US Bank to the name Robert-Dominic Zwilling Fund.