A burns survivor who felt like 'Frankenstein's mermaid' is determined to model again to show others 'life goes on'.Taylor Goodman, 23, suffered 42 percent burns to her body and was warned she could lose her legs after an explosion that nearly claimed her life.
She believed she was lighting a line of diesel to burn a rubbish pile, but it was gasoline, and it exploded moments after she set it alight.The brave medical student from Keota, Oklahoma, spent 25 days in a hospital's burns unit, requiring two blood transfusions, skin grafts over much of her body and then three surgeries to be able to talk again.
She believed she was lighting a line of diesel to burn a rubbish pile, but it was gasoline, and it exploded moments after she set it alight.The brave medical student from Keota, Oklahoma, spent 25 days in a hospital's burns unit, requiring two blood transfusions, skin grafts over much of her body and then three surgeries to be able to talk again.
She has also battled mobility restrictions caused by her scarring while relearning to walk. Since then, she has been learning to accept her new appearance, initially believing she looked like a 'Frankenstein's monster' and a 'mermaid' due to her 'scaly skin'.
But over time, she has started to embrace her scarring and the former model now has hopes of posing for shoots to empower other survivors. Taylor, who is training to become a registered nurse, said: "When I woke up I was wrapped like a mummy everywhere. I was unable to talk and in so much pain."I broke down because I know what I used to look like, and knew I'd never been the same again.
"I couldn't walk, talk, or use my hands. Physical therapy was so painful, as it was stretching all of my scars."I went from being model status to feeling like Frankenstein's mermaid."I felt like Frankenstein's mermaid because my legs looked like gory fish scales to me, like snakeskin and I felt like a monster."My self-esteem was at an all-time low, not being able to do the things I used to and not looking the same.
I still don't see myself the same, but I know I can't change it, so I live with it and yes I will model again to show other burn survivors that life goes on."Recalling the horrifying accident, which took place in June last year, Taylor said she was begged to be put to sleep.She said: "I was doing some yard work. I went to light I brush pile I was told had diesel on it, but it turned out to be gasoline."I remember being blown backwards and feeling like I was on fire, so I stopped, dropped and rolled.
"At first, the scarring terrified me, knowing I would never look the same ever again. I used to be a model, and I knew I had lost that hobby. "But day by day, I see progress slowly but surely. I've accepted that I can't change what happened or speed up time."At first, I would have break downs every day about my scars, but I'm slowly starting to accept I can't change what happened."