26 years ago, December 20th …. I was involved in a horrific car crash that permanently scarred my barely 14-year-old face.  With my braces cutting into my lips, my eyes without vision and battery acid burning an imprint on my soul – this would be the first night that would forever change the landscape of my life.

It was day two of a two-week vacation in sunny Ft. Lauderdale; with my father, brother and soon to be step mother in the car – we would suddenly be at the mercy of a drunk driver who lost control of his car.  His tire blew, causing him to swerve, hitting a nearby tree and forcing the battery from his automobile to catapult across the median into our car, breaking off into tiny pieces, spewing acid, glass and chaos everywhere.

My brother pulled my scared and shaking body from our station wagon, and laid me on the street alongside my step-mom Patti, who was screaming for help.  I couldn’t see her or anything for that matter, but could feel the panic in her voice.  We were met by an emergency crew that happened to be in the parking lot near where the accident occurred and they tended to us immediately.  At first, nobody knew what the foreign liquid was that was essentially drowning my step mom and I, but because of the quick response by the EMT’s who doused my eyes with water, I would only lose my sight for three days as opposed to being blind for the rest of my life.

Days later in the hospital, we were informed of the details of the crash and the fate of our physical and emotional futures.  Patti suffered 1st and 2nd degree acid burns on her face and I endured 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree acid burns on my neck, eyes, nose, and forehead – leaving me with multiple plastic surgeries to “hopefully” restore my face to its natural state.

I can recall every last detail of this night and the trauma we all endured … but upon reflection it’s the life lessons that I am able to focus on and be grateful for.  At such a young age, entering puberty with a maimed (and in my eyes, hideous) face … I somehow managed to keep my head up and my humor intact. I sincerely embraced the concept that beauty is truly skin deep.  I learned quickly how to rely on my wit, laughter, wisdom, courage… And despite wanting to hide from the world, I turned outward.  I focussed on school and put my energy towards helping others.  Who knows.  Maybe back then, my behavior was all a  subconscious ploy to draw attention away from me and my appearance by turning the tables on those around me; regardless of the impetus behind it, those coping mechanisms remain an integral part of my healing, growth and maturity. 

As an adult woman (who admittedly is getting more vain with each passing year), I am reminded daily of that life altering event when I look at my face in the mirror.  And yea, it’s still difficult to see up close, the literal remnants of the deep-rooted pain and anguish of our accident, but it’s the smaller, more subtle  gifts of that night that I take to heart.  My scar is now my beauty mark, to which I can trace the beginning stages of my journey in survivorship.

 

For more information on how you can help burn survivors and victims, please visit:  The Phoenix Society
To read more about my story, please find me on Facebook to stay informed on the release date of my upcoming memoir. (Titletown Publishing, 2012)