SHOCK READ
Real life
know how they could even bear to look
at me, not like this.
That night in bed, David held me and
told me everything would be OK. Then he
explained what had happened,and
with a clearer head, I listened.
As I’d curled my hair, reaching
the last couple of sections,
I’d had a seizure, falling to the
floor with the hot tongs still
intertwined with my hair.
‘Makennah heard you
scream and found you on the
bathroom floor,’ David said.
She’d unplugged my hair
tongs, released them from my
hair and then used my mobileto
phone Mum. She told Mum that I had
black make-up all over the side of my
face, unaware it was actually my burnt
skin. Mum had immediately come over
and phoned an ambulance.
‘If Makennah hadn’t found you when
she did, things could have been much
worse,’ said David, his voice breaking.
I couldn’t believe my nine-year-old
had saved my life. And she must have
been so very scared.
Mumandmy dad, James, 51, moved
in to help us out, and for the
next week, Mum changed
my dressing twice daily.
I avoided mirrors – and two
weeks later, I was
back at hospital
for a skin graft,
where doctors
attached skin
from the
top of my
rightthighto my face.
But a week later,
when the bandage
was removed, I was
distraught. It didn’t
look how I’d
hoped – where
I’d imaginedsmooth skin and
an open eye, there
were unsightly
stitches and raw
patches. No matter
how much I tried to
convince myself that
it wasn’t that bad,
every time I looked
in the mirror, I just
wanted to smash
it with frustration.
Over the next
three months, the skin graft didn’t heal
properly – and in April, an expander was
fitted into my left jaw. Doctors hoped
stretching the skin would help, and as
they inserted a balloon-like contraption
into the side of my face, I dreaded the
months that lay ahead.
Every week, Mum used a syringe to add
fluid to the balloon, through a port behind
my ear, in order to expand it a little.
The first time, it hurt, but the pain soon
subsided, although I could still feel the
bizarre sensation of the liquid going in.Facing other people
The girls, although shocked by my cheek,
initially, soon got used to it. I worried
other people would stare, and I didn’t
want to go out at first. But I couldn’t hide
away forever, so I made myself go out and
encouraged people to ask me questions
if I caught them staring.
In August, when the expander was
removed, doctors used the skin to cover
the burns – and, although my eye didn’t
look better, I could see clearly, and
my skin was smoother.
Since then, I’ve had two more surgeries
to fix my eye – and, although it still doesn’t
look quite right, I’m learning to accept the
new me. I’ve cried too many times over
the face I’ve lost and now it’s time
to move on and appreciate
what’s important.
I’ve even started a Facebook
page called Beauty Within
Brittney, initially as a blog to
document my journey, but
the positive feedback I’ve
had from women, telling
me I’ve helped them
overcome insecurities,
feels incredible.
That one morning was
life-changing for me, but
I have to keep moving
forward and use my
experience positively.
After all, beauty is so
muchmorethan
howyoulook.‘My
nine-year-
old had
saved
my life’
Doctors
fitted an
expander to
stretch the skinAfter
several
skin graftsAppreciating what’s
most important- her family