Las Cruces teen known from downtown farmers market airlifted after house fire, family launches fundraiser
A Las Cruces 13-year-old known from the downtown Farmers and Crafts Market was airlifted to a Lubbock burn center after a house fire, as his family raises funds to support his recovery.
Family says 13-year-old faces weeks in burn center after suffering injuries in April 27 fire
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
LAS CRUCES - A 13-year-old Las Cruces boy known to many in the community from the Farmers and Crafts Market of Las Cruces downtown was airlifted to a burn center after a house fire last week, according to a fundraiser organized on his behalf.
Matthew Garcia suffered second-degree burns to roughly 18% to 20% of his body, including his face, chest and hands, after the April 27 fire, according to the GoFundMe campaign. He was transported to a burn center in Lubbock where he is expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks.
Matt is a familiar presence at the Farmers and Crafts Market of Las Cruces, held downtown on Main Street. Frequent marketgoers may have browsed his booth, Matt's Scraps. He and his siblings operate several booths that draw regular crowds, including Sugar Twins Cotton Candy, which Matt operates with his twin brother, Andrew, and a lemonade business — Francy Emilade — run by his sister, Emily. His participation in the market has made him recognizable to many residents who attend the weekly event.
The fundraiser states that the family is facing mounting medical expenses along with travel and lodging costs as they remain near Matt during his treatment.
As of Monday morning, the campaign had raised more than $22,000 toward a $26,000 goal.
Family updates indicate that Matt has undergone skin graft and was able to spend some time with his family Sunday in the hospital's courtyard. The family says Matt faces a long recovery process that will include ongoing care after he leaves the hospital.
More information about the fundraiser can be found HERE.
Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.
Judge: New Mexico must halt universal childcare or contest ruling — A judge gave New Mexico 30 days to defend its universal childcare expansion after Republicans challenged how the state rolled out the program.
Legislative report finds 32,000 young New Mexicans not working, attending school — A new report says disconnected youth cost New Mexico taxpayers about $623 million annually, mostly through lost tax revenue.
Mescalero Apache teens are building wildfire and flood sensors to protect their community — Students are developing low-cost sensors after wildfires and flooding devastated areas including the Mescalero Tribal Fish Hatchery.
