By Jon Gambrell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - As families gather for Easter this weekend, a West Chester family is in Columbus with their son, who was critically injured during a house fire, while two other families are working to raise money to help pay for his mounting medical bills.

Josh Patterson, 20, remained in critical condition Friday at the Ohio State University Medical Center, a spokesman said.

Patterson was severely burned and suffered smoke inhalation during a fire at his off-campus residence at OSU early Sunday morning.

Andrea Kali Dennis, an Ohio University student from Madeira, and Kyle Raulin, an OSU student from West Chester, died in the fire, along with three other students. Patterson's girlfriend, Jennifer Lehren, 20, of Centerville, suffered minor injuries.

Family friend Evan Carras said that Patterson was on a respirator while fighting pneumonia, a result of smoke inhalation.

"He'll be in the hospital for a long time," Carras said. "But they hope he'll get off the respirator Monday."

Carras said that Patterson may need skin grafts for burns to his arms.

When the Carras family first moved to their West Chester home, Josh Patterson was the first person to greet them - though Patterson didn't live in the neighborhood.

"We were moving in and he ran up and welcomed us," Carras said. "The kid was so enthusiastic and nice."

Since the fire, another neighbor, the Cepress family, has been in contact with Patterson's family, trying to help.

On Wednesday, they set up a fund in Patterson's name at Fifth Third Bank. Any branch in the Cincinnati or Columbus areas can accept donations to help offset Patterson's rising medical bills.

Randy Cepress said when he first heard about the fire, he was worried his son, Carl, a student at Columbus College of Art & Design, had been there.

Cepress' son has visited Josh at the hospital, his father said.

"Josh would write stuff on paper and pass it to Carl," Cepress said. "He was joking around with Carl."

Both the Cepress and Carras families have been placing fliers around the community to seek donations for Patterson.

From 3 to 6 p.m. today, the families will hold a bake sale at the Kroger on U.S. 42 in Sharonville to raise money.

OSU blaze horrific, firefighters say