Woman Burned in Plane Accident Says Facing Kids Was 'Horrible'
Stephanie, a mother badly burned in a plane accident, tells Anderson the worst part was having her young children see her for the first time. Stephanie was burned over 80% of her body. "They came in the room, and were expecting to see Mom, and I looked nothing like the mother that I was before, and so they were very shocked. My daughter Jane came in first and saw me and then went out and told her sister, 'Don't go inside.'"
She continues, "It broke my heart. I think at that point I would've rather gone through the pain a million times over than to be rejected from my own children."
Stephanie says she pushed through to recovery with the help of family and friends, and even wrote a memoir, "Heaven Is Here," which chronicles her positive journey after the accident.
Win your own copy of Stephanie's book on "Anderson." Click here for more information about "Heaven Is Here."
Stephanie, who was a ski instructor before the crash, says she would like to go swimming, but still feels self-conscious about her body. Anderson surprised Stephanie with a gift from Endless Pools, which offers an adjustable current for swimming, exercise, therapy and fun.
Stephanie and her family were also offered a relaxing trip to Lake Powell Resort.
Click here to see Stephanie's blog.
Comments
Anderson, thank you so much for having Stephanie and Christian and their beautiful children on your show. They have been such an inspiration to me. And your gifts for them were wonderful! Just awesome. What a guy!
This story really touched me I am sitting here thinking that my problems and challenges are nothing compared to hers. Thank you Stephanie for showing me that lifes challenges are meant to be embraced and may God bless you and your beautiful family.
Stephanie Nielson's (sp) story was beautiful and truely touched me. I was born 5 years after my mother was burned over 75% of her body. I'm now 35. My mother's hands were deformed and she really only has one. She is the Post Master in my small home town of 400ish. She sings in public any chance she can get and has a beautiful voice. People that have just met her will ask others what is wrong/happened to her, most often the response is something like "what do you mean?" She handles herself so well and most forget, especially my sister and me, since we don't know her any differently. My sister was 11 months old when the accident happened. I literally could go on and on about her, but so could so many that have met and know her. I always hear about what an inspiration she is to people, and we her family couldn't know that any more!!!! I wish Stephanie the best of luck!! She is so beautiful!!!!
Andrea Schmitz
I KNOW A FAMILY OF 4 CHILDREN AND 2 PARENTS WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE FAMILY WAS GOING ON A TRIP OUT OF TOWN AND THE VEHICLE THEY WERE TRAVELING IN FLIPPED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE KIDS HAD 2 FRIENDS WITH THEM AND THE TWO FRIENDS AND ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS AND BOTH THE PARENTS DIED. ONLY THE SON AND TWO OF HIS SISTERS SURVIVED. THE FUNERAL WAS HORRIBLE. SO, SURVIVING TO WATCH AFTER YOUR CHILDREN WITH BURN MARKS ON YOUR FACE -- HEY, AT LEAST YOU GET TO SEE THEM GROW UP.