Music, Makeup and Moving Forward

“I just want to spread kindness to the world,” said Samantha.

“Life is really short, and anything can happen in a moment, so I want to live it to the fullest.” The 18-year-old from Harlingen, Texas, understands just how instantly life can change. On Christmas Eve in 2015, a gas explosion in her home left her with burns covering nearly 80% of her body.

Samantha was rushed to Shriners Children's Texas for specialized burn treatment and remained in the ICU for nearly a year. She completed her second-grade year in the hospital, built relationships with her care team, and began her journey as a burn survivor. “Shriners became my second home,” Samantha explained. “I remember the nurses would sing songs like Let It Go from Frozen when they came into my room. They made me feel so comfortable.”

After Samantha was discharged from the ICU, she returned for follow-up reconstructive and laser surgeries twice a year. However, she was not alone. One of Samantha's younger sisters had also received burn injuries from the explosion. Side by side, the sisters traveled to the hospital together as they recovered. They leaned on each other for support, with Samantha embracing her role as the oldest of five.

Samantha, who is very close with her three sisters and baby brother, stays actively involved in their lives. She appreciated that her reconstructive plastic surgeon, Ramon Zapata-Sirvent, M.D., took into account the bond she shared with her family.

“Dr. Zapata is really nice and funny, and I like that he can speak Spanish, so my family can joke around with him and just have a normal conversation,” she said. As part of her wrap-around care, Samantha also met with physical and occupational therapists and a pediatric psychologist. “They helped me to manage my stress and comprehend my accident, which helped a lot growing up. My therapists always turned my sessions into games too, which was fun.”

Both inside and outside the hospital, Samantha found creative outlets in two of her favorite hobbies: singing and makeup. She spent eight years in her school choir and enjoys listening to Spanish music, especially Selena Quintanilla. Samantha is also highly skilled in cosmetology, doing makeup for family and for large events. “I love makeup. It’s like therapy for me because I get to manage different creative looks,” she said.

In the spring of 2026, Samantha reached an exciting milestone and graduated from high school. In the fall, she will attend the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she plans to study social work. She hopes to one day work in a hospital setting, possibly as a social worker or a child life specialist. Stepping into this next chapter, Samantha is also nearing the end of her time as a patient at Shriners Children’s Texas, with about one year of treatment remaining. But the impact will be felt for life.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve always had compassion and wanted to help others,” Samantha said. “Because of my accident and everything I went through, I felt inspired by the team who helped me. I want to give back to the community the same way they helped me.”