Finding Strength After the Explosion

Six-year-old Grace was sitting in the back of her family’s truck in Eufaula, Oklahoma, when her older brother punctured a hole in an aerosol can and lit a lighter.

Instantly, an explosion tore through the car, surrounding Grace in flames and leaving her with severe burns on both legs. She was first taken to a local hospital in Eufaula, then transferred to Tulsa. When doctors there realized she needed more specialized care, she was flown to Shriners Children’s Texas, arriving just after midnight on October 12, 2011.

“When I got there, I remember waking up and being surrounded by people who cared,” Grace said. “They were so kind. Everyone made me feel like family.”

Her initial stay at Shriners Children’s Texas lasted about three and a half weeks, followed by two years of return visits for surgeries and skin grafts. Grace traveled every six months for follow-up appointments as her care team continued helping her heal. During that time, she began working with a physical therapist. Her burns caused significant damage to both legs, and doctors told her she might never walk again. But Grace was determined. Through stretching, balance and mobility exercises, she gradually began to regain strength.

Grace still remembers the moment her therapist watched her take those first steps without help. “I put my crutches down and walked all the way over,” Grace said. “Her jaw dropped, and we both just started crying. That moment meant everything.”

As her body healed, Grace also began working with a psychologist from the behavioral health department to help her process the traumatic event. The sessions gave her the tools to start rebuilding a sense of safety.

“After talking to the psychologist, they helped me understand that yes, bad things do happen, but it’s not always going to happen every time you get in a car,” she said. “They helped me calm my mind and truly understand what had happened.”

Over the years, Grace has held onto many memories from her time at Shriners Children’s Texas. One of her most cherished is a yellow baby blanket that a nurse made for her by hand. The blanket, decorated with baby animals and stitched with her name, is a keepsake that Grace has now passed down to her own daughter.

Today, 20-year-old Grace lives in Oklahoma and is studying medical billing and coding in college. She spends her free time working with animals, specifically training service dogs for children with disabilities. Grace was inspired to train service dogs after experiencing the difference her own made in her life, helping her to manage PTSD from the fire. “To me, a service animal isn’t just medical equipment. It’s a partner,” she said.

Grace’s journey wasn’t easy, but the support she felt from Shriners Children’s Texas meant everything. “There was a point in my life where I felt really low,” Grace said. “But I really have the team at Shriners to thank for giving me the opportunity of life. They helped me through everything and never gave up on me.”

Now, she’s determined to help others see their own strength the way she learned to see hers. “What happened to me was hard,” Grace said. “But I think it was a blessing, because I’ve become an advocate for burn victims. I want them to know you’re not alone.”