Mill Creek Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Michael Mathis has always been a fighter.

That was never more evident than when he was 11 and nearly lost his life in a horrific accident at a friend's house near Paine Field.

Mathis went to spend the night with his friend. The two were camping outside. Because it was cold, Mathis' friend went to pour some gasoline on a campfire.

Suddenly and without warning, the gasoline can exploded: Mathis saw a big flash that knocked him to the ground.

"I thought I was laying in fire," Mathis said. "The gas blew up on me. ... I was watching the skin melt off of my arms. I knew I was in shock. I didn't f...