In 2020 four-year-old Rawkee Hunt (now 7) was playing with one-year-old sister Martina (now 4) in the grass on her family farm in Utah, USA.

The terrifying incident took place when Rawkee’s rancher dad Shay Hunt (31) had just finished burning the overgrown grass from the roadway and fence lines. Shay carries out this task so his livestock is prevented from running through a fence the family cannot see from their home in the springtime.

While doing this job on February 3rd 2020, Shay had his two young daughters in the truck. Once the fires had burned down into embers he let the girls out while he cleaned his tools and loaded them into the truck.

Rawkee wandered into the area that had just been burned and the wind suddenly shifted and pushed the hot embers into a patch of grass that had not been completely burned.

This caused a strand of grass to ignite and suddenly pushed hot flames five-feet into the air. Rawkee was standing behind this strand of grass and the heat of the burning grass pushed into her causing her clothing and skin to start to melt.

Shay was able to quickly remove her and her clothing in order to prevent further injury to the little girl.

Her father rushed her into town in his farm truck where he then met his wife Megan, they transferred Rawkee to her much cleaner car and raced to the hospital.

Rawkee arrived at the hospital in a state of shock, upon arrival the hospital placed her in a medically induced coma for six days.

Rawkee’s mother, salon owner Megan Hunt (31) explained how her seven-year-old daughter has already had well over 100 surgeries since the accident, with at least that many more to come, according to medics.

“On February 3rd 2020 our lives changed in an instant,” she said.

“My husband Shay was working on our remote farm, located about 20 miles from the nearest city.

“Each winter we burn the overgrown grass from the road ways and fence lines, so livestock doesn’t run through a fence they cannot see in the springtime.

“While doing this job on this February day, my husband had our two young daughters in the truck (Rawkee, 4 and Martina, 1).

“Once the fires had burned down into embers, he let the girls out while he cleaned his tools and loaded them into the truck.

“Rawkee wandered into the area that had just been burned and the wind suddenly shifted and pushed the hot embers into a stand of grass that had not been burned.

“This caused the stand of grass to ignite and pushed hot flames over five-feet into the air.

“Rawkee was standing behind this stand of grass and the heat of the burning grass pushed into her causing her clothing and skin to start to melt.

“Her daddy was able to quickly remove her and her clothing in order to prevent further damage.

“32% of Rawkee’s body was burned. Areas include her entire face, tops of both hands, underneath of her left arm and left rib cage, fronts and backs of both of her legs and also right rib cage.

“She suffered deep third and fourth degree burns, Rawkees daddy Shay saved her.

“My husband ran to her when she started to scream and started pulling her clothing off as quickly as possible as they were melting into her skin.

“Her face was also melting as it took the most heat.

“She immediately went into shock and he drove the 30 minutes into town. I met him about five miles outside of town and we loaded her into my car, it was much cleaner than the farm truck.

“We then ran her into the local hospital where she was placed into a medical coma for the next six days.”

Rawkee has been in recovery for two-and-a-half years; she has had over 100 surgeries and due to her body not responding traditionally to treatment the family had to begin tissue expansion treatment.

“Rawkee has had well over 100 surgeries with at least that many more to go,” said Megan

“Unfortunately Rawkee’s body didn’t respond to traditional healing methods commonly used for burn survivors.

“Her body developed aggressive keloid scars that soon traveled over many areas over her body and majorly affected the structure of her face and joints.

“We were referred to a plastic surgeon who had a clever plan to expand the few areas of healthy skin that remained on Rawkee’s body.

“By expanding her healthy skin we could remove the scar build up and resurface these areas with healthy skin. Essentially removing a large area scar for a much smaller line scar.

“The process has been a huge journey and very painful. The tissue expanding balloons were placed underneath her skin above her tissue in April 2021. Then we have to allow the body time to accept the expanders before we start the weekly injection process.

“Once the body accepts the expanders we do weekly injections with a large needle poked into her ports that are located below her skin. The expanders take about three-months to completely expand.

“The fuller they get the more pressure and limited mobility Rawkee receives. We then schedule removal surgery and resurface with the new skin created.

“These surgeries generally last 8-15 hours and task Rawkee’s little body immensely.

“Our hope in this journey is to restore mobility and allow her body to grow at a normal rate without the restraint of the scars and banding.”

Rawkee is incredibly brave and as confident as ever but that unfortunately does not stop the staring in the street or the probing questions from other children.

“Many people look at her with distasteful looks from a complete misunderstanding of what she has been through,” said Megan.

“We have found that it’s people’s lack of knowledge that leads to rudeness.

“It’s very common for children to rudely ask “what is wrong with your face” but Rawkee has a very bold and grounded mindset and doesn’t allow these questions to affect her.

“It hasn’t affected Rawkees confidence, if anything I would say it has increased it.

“Rawkee’s mindset is absolutely incredible. She never has a bad day. Sometimes she will have a hard moment but never lets it get her down for long.

“She stays physically, spiritually and mentally active with daily prayer/meditation, dance, gymnastics, arts and crafts, singing and playing the piano.

“She gives all she has to be positive and keep a bright outlook that everything happens for a reason and every pain has a purpose.”

The family has also seen incredible kindness in these trying times, even from strangers.

“We have had many incredible individuals and organisations join together to provide so much support and healing for Rawkee,” said Megan.

“Many money donations have been made to help support her immense medical debts. Many cards, gifts and kindnesses have been sent her way that have provided healing and comfort.

“Most of all Rawkee has been blessed with the most incredible medical team of men and women who give so much to help her on her path of healing and recovery.

“Our message to burn survivors is to boldly tell your story. You are a SURVIVOR and your survival was for a very specific purpose.

“There are people who you need to connect with and a lesson you need to share with them.

“Face your fears and remember every pain has a purpose. It’s not about the outside, it's about the bold warrior on the inside. Keep fighting!

“Keep giving and most of all keep leaning into your journey. You are a warrior and your strength will bless the lives of so many.”

ENDS