VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach girl burned in a flash fire just days before Halloween is back home from the hospital.
“Just to see your child like this is a mother’s nightmare,” said Melanie Garcia.
The nightmare for the Garcia family began when 4-year-old Chloe was injured in an accident while trying to illuminate a jack-o’-lantern.
“She is the strongest little girl I know,” Garcia added.
On Oct. 29, fire crews rushed out to the Garcia’s home on Polk Drive. Melanie Garcia’s boyfriend had Chloe in his arm when there was a flash fire. He was using a lighter and attempting to light the pumpkin.
“I was upstairs ironing, and I heard this big whoosh,” Garcia said. “I ran downstairs, and I saw John on fire. His whole arm was on fire. I was trying to put him out and my whole table was on fire, and he said she was on fire.”
Both John and Chloe were injured. Chloe suffered second and third degree burns. She spent months in the hospital.
“She didn’t open her eyes for three full days,” Garcia added. “She was in the intensive care for three full days, and she didn’t open her eyes or anything.”
Chloe has since gone through 12 surgeries including several skin graphs. Doctors are even using skin from her thigh to regrow on her face
“It was extremely tough to see her laying there and there was nothing I could do to help her,” Garcia said.
The young girl is slowly healing and the medical bills have mounted up.
“Some parts of my insurance isn’t covering things,” Garcia added. “I actually have to pay out-of-pocket. It is just going to be a long road when it comes to that definitely.”
Friends have set up at fundraising page to help the family pay for medical bills.
The road to recovery is also a long one, but now at least Chloe ‘s home ready to celebrate another holiday.
“I count my blessings everyday because I know things could have been 10 times worse, and we are just thankful that she is here,” Garcia said.
The Garcia family has an attorney looking into if the lighter used was faulty. If they determine it was, they could file a lawsuit.
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