Andrea Grant was only nine years old when she and her then-11-year-old brother were caught in a huge gas explosion in their family home.
Grant actually died at the time of the explosion and had to be saved by doctors before being emergency air lifted to the hospital. It took months of pain, surgeries, and relearning basic actions before Grant was able to finally return home and reestablish her life as a burn survivor.
The explosion left her with 3rd degree burns over 85% of her body, and doctors warned her that she most likely wouldn’t be able to carry a child to full term because her scarred skin wouldn’t stretch enough during pregnancy to accommodate for the growth of her child.
At 20, however, Grant became a mother. She gave birth to her daughter, Jada, without any huge health concerns or mishaps, and is now pregnant with her second child, Marcus.
When Grant reached her 37th week of pregnancy, she decided to celebrate her overcoming the doctors’ premonitions by doing a photo shoot. Grant had just intended for the photos to be posted and shared on her personal charity site, Beyond Scars.
Beyond Scars was a place where she could share her experiences and use them to encourage and support other burn survivors who were struggling to reestablish their lives.
Not long after Grant posted her photos online, however, they went viral and took the entire Internet by storm. Everyone loved the stunning photos and admired Grant’s strength and resilience.
When the outpouring of positivity came flowing in, Grant admitted she was initially overwhelmed.
“I wanted to share this pregnancy with [other] survivors, so I said at the end I’ll do a photoshoot, not thinking the photos would go viral,” she explained.
The unexpected warm reception, however, gives her strength and motivation. “It makes me feel like God is reminding me that I am beautiful,” she explained. “Even I get discouraged sometimes, so to see so many people speak so highly of me and my story makes me feel stronger.”
Grant is now eagerly anticipating the birth of her second child.
Her advice for everyone reading her story? “Build confidence around that and once you’ve built yourself up, no one can ever bring you down.”
