Photos by Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

After suffering severe burns in a grilling accident in July, Scoutmaster Larry Howell turned to a hobby — woodworking — as a form of therapy. Howell, who is still healing from his injuries, says he can tell a noticeable improvement on a weekly basis.

Larry Howell leads a Boy Scout meeting at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, telling the Scouts the proper essentials to bring on a hiking trip. Howell was involved in a grill accident in July, and nearly half of his body was burned. He suffered first- and second-degree burns and has spent months working to regain his dexterity.

Last week, Roanoke's Boy Scout Troop 2 had its final meeting of the year.

The last item left on the agenda was to prepare for their next outing, an early-January hike up McAfee Knob.

As the dozen young men encircled a table, Scoutmaster Larry Howell walked them through the essential items they'd need for the trek. He showed them how to pick the right equipment and how to use it, particularly in weather as cold as they're expecting.

But it was just a few months ago that Howell, 60, was bedridden and found it painful simply to turn the pages of a book.

In July, he was severely injured while operating the troop's commercial barbecue smoker. Propane that had collected in the cooking chamber ignited in his face.

He was alone when it happened and suffered first- and second-degree burns to nearly half his body, including his legs, chest, face and especially his hands. His fingers were individually bandaged, he had two skin grafts performed on his legs and he was confined to bed for most of the summer.

"His were partial-thickness burns," said Dwayne Pitre, an occupational therapist at University of Virginia Medical Center whom Howell said was instrumental in his recovery. "Scarring occurs, and it can inadvertently lock down some of the tendons. And as the skin heals, it can also tighten up."

So Pitre encouraged Howell to use his hands as much as possible and assigned him exercises, such as shuffling cards and picking up coins.

"The more you do it, the better your dexterity gets," Pitre said. "It's the best exercise because there's a purpose and a meaning behind it."

After his release from the hospital, Howell was able to turn one of his hobbies -- woodworking -- into therapy. He said the natural movements involved serve as exercises.

"I have soreness in my knuckles, which my doctor told me I would experience for about a six-month period," he said. "As I keep moving and flexing and working and doing the things I do, that'll work itself out over time."

By September, he was improved enough to take a vacation and catch up on his fishing.

"He was the only guy on the pier with long sleeves, long pants and a big hat and gloves," joked his wife, Diana.

"I caught more fish than I've ever caught," he said. "I was feeling a lot better and I felt like I was regaining my life, so to speak. I'm actually still healing. I can tell a noticeable difference on a weekly basis."

Assistant Scoutmaster Chuck Garst said that Howell's injury has prompted the troop to redouble its concentration on safety, and last month they devoted an entire meeting to first aid.

As Howell went through camping items, he pointed out that a bandanna could be used for handling hot cooking pots and skillets.

"It'll protect you against burns ... and we all know about burns, right?" Howell said, and the previously talkative troop grew quiet, murmured, "Yeah" and nodded solemnly.

"I think it'd basically collapse if he wasn't here," said Scott Overacker, 13, a Star scout from Troop 2. "We'd still be able to function, but it wouldn't work as well or run as smoothly."

Howell, for his part, said he's glad to be back and said the experience, though painful, gave him an enhanced perspective on life.

"I still have all the scars, and I look at those every day," he said. "It's a reminder of how difficult it was, but it's also a reminder that I've had so many people praying for me.

"I truly feel extremely blessed."