Few week ago, Andrea Grant‘s maternity photoshoot went viral. She was 37 weeks gone but unlike other women, hers was peculiar: she’s a survivor of third degree burns who had been medically advised not to get pregnant because her body supposedly would not carry the baby beyond four months. Because the skin of the stomach has to stretch, doctors were worried that her skin wouldn’t be able to.
She has however defied the odds not once, but twice! She has a four-year-old daughter. However, leading up to the birth of her son, she decided to show her scars to the world and inspire other burn survivors. She has since been delivered of the boy, Marcus.
Andrea’s children, Jada and Marcus.
When she was nine years old, Andrea and her brother Kendell were in a fire caused by a gas explosion in their home. The burns covered 85% of her body and it was a miracle that she didn’t die.
She spent several months in the hospital, healing and learning how to do basic things again: she had to re-learn how to eat, write and walk before going back to school and completing high school. Her brother had the same injuries as well, and spent a slightly shorter time in the Intensive Care Unit like his sister.
He says that while he was already in the rehabilitation wing of the hospital they were both in, he would sometimes walk down the corridor and see his sister still tied in tubes and bandages.
Today, Andrea runs the Beyond Scars Inc. that helps burn survivors and their families to recover physically and mentally, helping them build on areas such as their self confidence and regaining a sense of self-worth. On her website, she writes that one of her favourite encouraging phrases that she teaches people about self-love is: ‘Look in the mirror, find that one thing you love about yourself and build confidence around it.’
A photo posted by Life Is WorthLiving With Scars (@chillonmill) on
Having suffered this horrific accident, she’s well aware how much it can affect lives and she started the foundation to help burn survivors heal. Her Instagram page has over 60,000 followers and her message of hope has been carried on several news platforms. She was also on an episode of Doctors where she told her inspiring story.
Looking at her photos, one can only begin to imagine the extensive work that has gone into treating the severe burns as well as the incredible mental roadblock she would have had to overcome from childhood.
Her story is not inspiring, not only for burn survivors but for anyone going to a bad patch at whatever point in their lives. If this beautiful lady sees a queen each time she looks in the mirror instead of a scarred fragile individual, who are you not to see the best in yourself?
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