Masked boy barred from kindergarten due to burns

Wang Gengxiang, known as "Masked Boy", plays a staring game with a girl in a kindergarten classroom at Mijiazhuang village on the outskirts of Fenyang, North China's Shanxi province Sept 8, 2011. Gengxiang, 6, was severely burned in an accident involving a pile of burning straw last winter. Most of the skin on his head was burned off, requiring him to wear a full surgical mask to prevent the scars from becoming infected. The doctors disclosed that they cannot continue his skin-graft surgery until his damaged trachea, or windpipe, is strong enough, according to local media reports. Gengxiang is not allowed to attend classes at the kindergarden due to his personal safety and concerns about how his presence might affect other children at the kindergarden, according to his father. He is only allowed into the kindergarden to play during media visits. [Photo/Agencies]

A combination picture shows Wang Gengxiang (R) on Children's Day on June 1, 2010, and another picture of him after he was severely burned in an accident, at Mijiazhuang village on the outskirts of Fenyang, North China's Shanxi province on Sept 9, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]