ELLSWORTH – A local boy seriously burned Oct. 30 when a high school classmate set his Halloween costume on fire may be well enough to stay home for good, his grandfather said hopefully Friday.

Donald Awalt, 14, returned from Boston on Monday, three days before Christmas, said Earl “Buzzy” Awalt, the boy’s grandfather and legal guardian.

Awalt said his grandson was happy to make it home in time for the holidays.

“That was a big deal for him,” Awalt said. “He was going to be disappointed if he didn’t make it.”

Donald had spent three weeks at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston after he suffered serious burns to his back and legs during a costume contest at Ellsworth High School.

He returned home a week before Thanksgiving, flying from Boston to Trenton on a charter flight, but had to return to Boston when his wounds weren’t healing properly.

The 14-year-old was greeted by more than 60 relatives, friends and well-wishers when the plane touched down at the Trenton airport. His grandparents, Earl and Lorraine Awalt, drove him back to Boston the day after Thanksgiving.

Donald was transferred from Brigham and Women’s to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston Dec. 5, where he stayed until returning home Monday.

Earl Awalt said his grandson was not expected to return to school “for a while” and that he will be tutored at home, where he also will receive physical therapy until he is well enough to attend classes.

Awalt said Donald has made improvements in his ability to walk. “He’s doing pretty well,” he said. “He’ll have to go back to Boston for checkups.”

Awalt said his grandson, having spent Christmas at home with his family, is in “excellent” spirits.

People who want to send Donald notes or cards can mail them to the family home at 26 Washington St., Ellsworth 04605, Awalt said Friday.

Donald was wearing a military sniper costume, an outfit he had worked on for six months, when another student allegedly set the costume on fire during Ellsworth High School’s annual Spook Day festivities.

Donald, who was in the school gym with the rest of the student body watching a costume contest, was consumed in a “ball of flame” before he jumped from the bleachers to the gym floor, according to witnesses.

Other students used parts of their costumes to help beat out the flames as Donald rolled around on the gym floor.

Lucas White, 15, of Otis is accused of setting the student on fire with a cigarette lighter. White is facing felony charges of arson, elevated aggravated assault and aggravated assault. He is scheduled for a juvenile trial on the charges Jan. 9 in Ellsworth District Court.