She is My Hero: A Husband's Tribute to Love, Courage, and Survival

My wife and I have been together for over 42 years. Alice isn't just my sweetheart and best friend—she's my hero.

On a warm January afternoon in 2024, we were driving home through southwest Florida when a reckless speeding car cut me off. I tried to change lanes but collided with a landscaping truck that had already slowed down. That truck was carrying unsecured gasoline tanks that spilled during the crash. The gasoline ignited, and the friction of the crash sparked a fire that rapidly consumed almost our entire vehicle. The force of the crash, along with the airbag from my steering wheel, rendered me unconscious.

Alice, disoriented but conscious, opened her passenger door to escape—but when she realized I wasn't responding to her calls, she did the unthinkable. Though flames had already reached her clothes and the right side of her body, she climbed across the console, injured her knee, and unbuckled my seatbelt. With strength and no thought for her own pain, she pulled me from the burning vehicle and dragged me to safety. By then, I started to open my eyes but was unaware of what had happened to us.

Intensive Burn Care and the Fight for Recovery

Paramedics arrived and rushed us to a nearby hospital. While I had burns on my right ear and several broken ribs, Alice's injuries were far more severe. Because of the extent of her burns, a Medevac helicopter was called to fly her 45 minutes to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami. Alice recalled the extreme pain she felt, but she was grateful for the co-pilot's help during the trip.

There, she received an initial diagnosis: third-degree burns on 40% of her body, including her right hip, leg, ankle, shoulder, and part of her back, along with a broken rib and a severe knee injury from the crash. Her journey to recovery had just begun.

The wonderful and highly-trained burn care team at Kendall Hospital worked tirelessly to save Alice's life. It took 12 surgeries, multiple skin grafts, and several blood transfusions over six weeks before she was stabilized and on the road to recovery. During that time, she also developed a serious infection in her right knee due to the fire and the impact of the car's stick shift when she struggled to climb over it.

Five days after I was discharged, I joined her at the hospital and was welcomed by the compassionate trauma center staff. I was grateful that I could stay by her side during this critical period. Her daughter flew in from New York to support her until I arrived, and together, we navigated the emotional and physical challenges of burn recovery.

Ongoing Healing and Relearning to Walk

After two months at Kendall, Alice was transferred to West Gables Rehabilitation Hospital for intensive physical and occupational therapy. Though doctors initially thought she wouldn't walk for months, Alice proved them wrong. We walked out together—hand in hand—just one month later.

The exceptional therapists and nurses at West Gables helped Alice regain strength and confidence. We are so grateful for the support they gave us – and Alice was incredibly brave and strong. We prayed together every night and received many phone calls from family and friends as the days progressed. And, of course, I am always grateful to Alice for saving my life, and I thank God for allowing us to stay together.

A year and a half later, we moved back to Virginia. Though Alice continues to manage the lasting effects of her injuries, she's doing well. I now accompany her every three months to the Burn Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where we receive expert care and guidance.

This journey has changed us. I must admit that I sometimes blame myself for not reacting quickly enough when the accident occurred, and the experience left me feeling a bit helpless for a long time afterward. Alice sometimes fears getting back in a car with me. We manage it together—sometimes taking an Uber instead—and we talk openly about our feelings. But I am relieved and continue to be inspired by my terrific wife's strength, resilience, and positive attitude.

Finding Hope & Burn Survivor Support

Through my online research to find information for burn survivors, I found the American Burn Association (ABA). They led us to the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, and we discovered a wonderful website filled with valuable and helpful information. I also encouraged Alice to participate in online support groups and get more involved with the burn survivor community.

In the early days, friends referred to Alice as a "burn victim." I gently corrected them: she is a burn survivor. Recovery from a burn injury isn't like healing from a broken arm—it's a long-term journey that transforms every part of your life. But Alice meets each day with strength, gratitude, and determination.

As Alice says, "I'm getting better every day." And I always respond: "Amen."

I will always be grateful. Alice is truly my best friend AND MY HERO.