Young burn victim finally goes home after two years in the hospital

A Franklin County, Pennsylvania girl, who was badly burned in a fire, is finally home after nearly two years in a hospital.

She suffered severe burns, was in a coma for four months and lost a leg due to poor circulation.

"Reese is kind of our hometown hero," Chris Ardinger, with Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce, said.

Reese Burdette receiving a hero's welcome in Mercersburg today.

"The community really rallied around her and her family since then. In a situation like that you would think over time that maybe community support would dwindle, people get busy, but with our community people have gotten more involved," Ardinger said.

Mercersburg was covered in purple- Reese's favorite color.

Hundreds of people flocked to the street to celebrate the homecoming.

Ardinger said, "She's just the sweetest little girl that you can imagine and for a situation as tragic as hers to happen, I think the community really fell in love with Reese and the family. They're great people and just wanted to do whatever they can to help them."

People who didn't even know Reese came out to celebrate her coming home.

Bailey Carpenter, a resident, said, "It's a great event to come and see everyone gather around for this one little girl who deserves everything."

Elementary school kids were lined up outside the school cheering for her as she passed by.

Ryan Kaczmark, Principal of Mercersburg Elementary School, said, "Just to see this community rally around people and to see the kids' excitement about her coming back was phenomenal."

Reese was using an iPad robot to help her in school while in the hospital.

She will still have to use the robot while she is at home.

"She virtually participates in her math lessons almost every day. So now it's about finding how to create that - still use that and encompass that with her being back in the area as well," Kaczmark said.

Reese is coming home just in time to celebrate her ninth birthday on Sunday.

"It warms my heart to see people that care about her. I mean she's been through so much that a little girl shouldn't have to go through," Carpenter said.