Gracie’s Story
Gracie was just 18 months when she reached up and pulled a hot cup of tea onto herself.
What happened?
Gracie was just 18 months old when our lives changed in an instant. In the space of a heartbeat, she reached up and pulled a hot cup of tea onto herself. The boiling liquid spilled across her tiny face, mouth, neck, shoulder, chest and arm. I had turned my back for less than a second to place the tea bag in the bin.
The shock was overwhelming. At first, she couldn’t even scream – her silent cry made it hard to grasp how badly she was hurt. But instinct and the first aid training I had taken when she was born kicked in immediately. I picked her up and rushed her to the bathroom. Together we stood under running water for what felt like forever. For 20 minutes, I held my wriggling, screaming toddler fully clothed under the shower until the ambulance arrived. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but it was crucial. Cooling the burn was protecting her skin, and staying calm was protecting both her and my son, who was only five years old at the time, witnessing all of this.
Treatment and recovery journey
When the paramedics arrived, they reassured me that those long minutes under the shower had made all the difference. At the hospital, doctors focused on protecting her eyes, mouth and nasal passages. I remember feeling crushed by guilt, like the worst mother in the world. But the staff were incredibly kind. They reminded me again and again that the care Gracie received at home had given her the best chance of recovery. Their compassion carried me through a time when shame and helplessness could have consumed me.
Under the care of Professor Fiona Wood and her team, Gracie was treated with Spray-on-Skin™, regular dressing changes, and occupational therapy. Within weeks she was back home, wearing tiny compression vests and beginning daily wound massage. Those treatments, along with her newfound resilience, gave her what we thought impossible, scarless healing.
Life now
Today, over 10 years on, Gracie is thriving. She has no physical limitations, no ongoing pain. She is strong, stubborn, brave – a fighter in every sense of the word. She loves the beach, swimming, basketball and AFL. Watching her tackle challenges with such courage makes the memory of that day a little easier to carry.
Our family will be forever grateful to the paramedics who reassured us, to the hospital staff who treated us with such kindness, and to Professor Fiona Wood and her team for giving Gracie the chance to heal without scars.
