POLK COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The condition of the Polk County boy injured in a grenade blast last month has improved.

Eddie Weise III, 9, lit a grenade in his home on Feb. 18.

The grenade had been stuffed with black powder from firecrackers, and the grenade exploded, injuring Weise's face and severely injuring his left hand.

Weise's parents, Ann Marie Weise and Edward Weise II, spoke for the first time on camera outside Tampa General Hospital Friday afternoon.

"It was going to be like a firecracker and nothing happened with it. And I took it and I put it away," said Weise Jr. "And I should've thrown it away, but that's hindsight. And I pretty much forgot about it."

"I don't know how he lit it. I don't know if it was the oven or it was the candle," said Ann Marie Weise. "He had it in his hand and I said, 'put it..' and by the time I told him to put it down, it had already blown up."

The Weises said their son walked as far as a nurse's station on Thursday and is talking again.

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The Churchwell Elementary student is still in serious condition.

Weise's parents said doctors were able to save two fingers on his hand.

Weise Jr. said they haven't told his son that he's missing some fingers.

"He doesn't really know about the hand. He thinks it's broken," Edward Weise said. "We haven't told him that yet. He's just pretty much coming around now the past couple of days."

"Their goal is to keep the thumb and the pinky so he can grab things later on. They were successful in putting the fingers back on," Ann Marie Weise said. "They did have to remove one about a week ago, that they put on, that wasn't living anymore."

The parents credit hospital staff for saving Eddie's life.

"How do you put a mouth back on where there's such a small scar? His nose, when I seen him, I was scared to go see him after the surgery because of what I had seen prior," said Ann Marie.


The boy lit an old grenade, similar to this one, that his dad packed with black powder from firecrackers."Past couple of week have been pretty miserable," said Weise Jr. "But as I see him get better, I feel better as well."

The parents said their son's going to continue recovering at Tampa General Hospital for the next couple of months.

They said doctors hope to re-attach some more fingers and said he's expected to regain movement in his left hand.

Weise Jr. said he's anticipating a criminal charge is going to be filed against him but is thankful that hasn't happened while his son needs him to be at the hospital. Weise may be moved out of intensive care within a week.

The case is still under investigation.

A fundraiser to help pay for Weise's medical expenses will take place Saturday at the End Zone in Sweetbay Plaza in Lakeland from 1 to 5 p.m