In September 2015, 11-month-old Hattie crawled up to a gas fireplace in her family’s home and did something quite typical for a curious toddler―she touched the palms of both her hands against the front glass panel. It was an innocent, split-second act that will have a lifetime of medical consequences.

Although the fireplace had been turned on for only a brief period of time and her father was only a few feet away, Hattie sustained deep burn injuries. She required multiple surgeries to replace her own skin with artificial tissue and a skin graft. She was confined to full arm and hand casts for eight weeks, which delayed her walking, as use of the arms is critical to a toddler’s balance. Hattie’s surgeries were followed by a year of intensive physical therapy and she was required to wear compression gloves. She will require additional surgeries and medical treatment as she grows.