Before April 2017, Trinity Larson says she was outgoing. She was a cheerleader, had several friends, and never felt concern about how she looked in public.
That was all until one night when she was at bonfire in Granby with her friends. As one of them poured oil and gasoline on the fire, the mixture splashed on Larson. The wind picked up and carried the flames. She suffered 3rd and 4th degree burns on more than a quarter of her body.
Flight for Life transported Larson to Children’s Colorado where she stayed for two months in the Intensive Care Unit and Rehab Center at the Burn Center.
Larson's family moved from Granby to Commerce City to be closer to the hospital.
“Seeing your kid come in and hooked to all kind of tubes and everything else has been one of the hardest things for me,” said Larson’s mother, Kim Weebers.
Larson has medically recovered, for the most part. She is scarred, but says her pain nowadays isn't physical - it's emotional.
But that struggle hasn't stopped her from moving forward. Larson, now 13, conquered a tragedy difficult for most children her age, and became an ambassador for the burn team at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She's one of 18 such ambassadors who speaks to other burn victims, and helps raise money for Children’s Hospital Colorado.
"They said, 'We're picking you to be an ambassador because no matter how tough... you still fought through it and tried your best,'" she said.
Larson attends Medical Day Treatment Monday through Friday. It’s an alternative school program at Children’s Colorado that integrates medical treatment and academics. She enjoys art, quilting, and singing. The program offers therapies to heal her scars and improve her strength.
“It’s getting easier, it was kind of always easy because I knew none of it was on purpose. It was all an accident,” she said.
Larson wears a mask and pressure garments to limit scarring. Her doctors are hopeful to remove them between six months and a year.
In the meantime, Larson is making a difference in the lives of other kids and burn victims by sharing her story.
The Children’s Hospital described Larson as passionate and inspirational.
For information or to donate to Larson’s recovery visit www.childrenscoloradofoundation.org/trinity.
