DowntonCrabby
198618
10503
360
this guy.
We started dating our junior year of high school.
Here we are at our high school graduation.
Before we knew it we were graduating from college!
His graduation
My graduation
But then the fire nation attacked...
...just kidding haha. He was involved in a serious accident involving a gasoline flash fire. Over 60% of his body was burned, mainly second and third degree. Never, ever, ever mix gasoline and fire. It is NEVER a good idea. Ok, end of safety spiel.
Slowly getting better
Out of respect for him i'm not posting most of the pictures of his healing process. We'll just skip ahead :) Most of his body healed really quickly. His torso and face looked almost brand new at this point! His legs, however, weren't healing well at all. His doctors decided it would be best for him to have grafting surgery. Skin was harvested from his thigh, and placed circumferentially around his legs from the knees down and across the tops of his feet.The grafting surgery actually improved the pain in his legs, but the pain at the harvesting site (his thigh) was bad. We were happy though, because we knew it could only get better from here!
We slept (and he ate) a lot...
I had a pull out bed once he got out of the ICU, which was awesome. I was tempted to crawl in bed with him, but didn't want to hurt his new baby skin or disturb his grafts (plus i'm pretty sure his nurses would've booted my ass out for breaking the rules). He got to eat a ton of food because healing that much requires a lot of calories.
His face healed SO well!
I mean, it just looks so perfect! Look at that beautiful skin!
Finally getting ready to go home
Pardon the selfie.
He finally got to sleep in his own bed!
I'm sure he didn't appreciate me in his face while he slept, but it felt so nice to be able to be that close to him again!
Legs healing nicely :)
His doctors were really happy with the progress he was making. He had a home nurse come to his house for daily bandage changes, and he had physical therapy for quite a while, but slowly but surely things returned to normal.
His first day back to work.
He had to wear compression bandages over his arm and legs, but he was so happy to get back to his normal routine. He'll be wearing compression hose over his donor site and grafting sites for another year, and he'll have to avoid intense sun exposure for many, many, many years...but who cares?! He's out of pain, happy, and healthy.
He proposed in October :)
He had his friends hiding in the bushes taking pictures haha.
THE RING :D
I can't even get anything done, I just stare at it......so shiny, much bling, wow.
We're getting married in August...
And I couldn't be more thankful!
Thanks for reading, and thanks for all the laughs imgurians! I spent a lot of time on imgur in the hospital, and it always brightened my day!
fartgirl
I' m so happy for you! You two are amazing :)
PETTYOFFICER117
TurboAligator
your're a super girl, for going trough that with him. many wouldn't. you'll be a super mother, i can assure you that! best wishes for both!
YarmulkeYarmulkeSexySexy
Such genuine happiness in the last picture, it melts my heart
Mintyfreshness
+1 for Mizzou plus a
good story. Congrats!
ThomasMontgomeryHaverford
Fuck yeah! Didn't go to school there but did an internship in the physics department. Always support.
NoMayo
Goddammit. The feels
thisishappening
you both are amazing first time i've been genuinely happy for happy people
proudkittymommy
" but it felt so nice to be able to be that close to him again! " not gonna lie i tear'd up...
Rockslide
Beautifull!
scarabrae
Wow, dude got lucky.
aBEARicanhero
MIZZOU!!! Great taste in blankies
Ishouldbemoreprivate
I regret that I have but one point to give. Congrats on a new lease on life for the both of you!!
IsmileOften
MIZ :)
DangerMouse56
it's cheesy, but it's imgur so I'll do it anyway...ZOU
Brained
Yeah, I did it to a few comments, but it's the interwebs.
ritacl
Thats love!
Inboxmeyoursugergliders
much bling wow hahahaha :)
EricMatthews
You are a good fucking girlfriend/fiancée, OP
dunitagain
Such a beautiful couple:) and OP, such a beautiful smile. I'm sure that got him through a lot of pain.
TotalSmartAss
Unpopular Puffin: Your smile is nicer than Anna Kendrick's
rudecadaver
Anna Kendrick's teeth are too big for her mouth. If she had a mustache she could pass for Nigel Thornberry. Smashing.
MarshallEriksen
Nah, I'd say that's a popular opinion. She's got a beautiful smile :) +1 mate
yoshimasta
Agree!
rlyehcthulhu
I was thinking the same thing. She even looks a bit like her in some pics.
causticcottager
I know Mizzou's Columns when I see them! I am very happy this had a good ending. Best of luck with everything OP!
bobloblaws
THIS IS SO AWESOME!
JimmyKillsAlot
I assume you posted this to invite us all to the wedding?
RIPKobeBryant
Can't wait. Much excited
ladyimgurian
I'm ok with a livestream!
DiedAndHauntingImgur
No one ever invites us to nuff'n *grumble grumble*
upwardfeels
We demand an audience.
BrotherSammyWilson
Jesus we're getting invited to a lot of weddings, My suit and blender budget is flying through the roof
YouWannaGoToWarBuhlakay
Not to mention the yellow armor.
ken27238
Good thing it's black friday. time to get a suit.
TonyaRolling90
"Are there any who oppose?"
"Yea, me!" "FUCK YOU DAN!!"
ken27238
YOU TOO, SUSAN!!!
LitDSandman
And Diane.
ipissonyourparade
I think Diana deserves a cactus up her ass.
TheQuackin
*breathing intensifies*
LOTNorm
"Look at that beautiful skin!" <-- This shit right here; that's fucking great.
monicarasaurus
"baby skin" is what got me lol
Emuhlah
Exactly what I was thinking as I read that. Love people like that.
amourtardis
MIZ....ZOU!!!
ugn1
*sob* I feel so alone...
whatweretheythinking
livebackwards
moetdm
Thank you for being by his side through everything, the world needs more people like you.
menseoppiestasie
To be fair she's probably by his side because he's pretty great too!
DowntonCrabby
OHMYGOODNESS! Thanks so much for all the love, imgur! And ZOU to my fellow tigers!!!! :))))
PulloverNoItsACardiganKillerBootsMan
You two are adorable. And I envy your happiness.
lawlysmoke
Your commitment and love of him is inspiring & seemingly hard to find now a days. Props to you, sweetheart!
Weddell
May you two always be happy.
Wintermaybecomingbutimstillhotashell
dat ring tho
ajhg38
I knew those were the columns! Congrats!! :)
jackblade
You guys look genuinely happy together in the last picture.. I like that. Rock on.
alsoachosenusername
I just wanted to say you have very nice teeth.. That's all
salriella
You have beautiful teeth.
FolloGreen
Good luck, OP
youeatmydust
As a fellow tiger, I am happy for his recovery! As a blue springs high school graduate, did you happen to go to blue springs south?
DustyBozangas
I'll give you a ZOU from an Auburn Tiger! Congratulations on the engagement, and on being awesome in general!
erratica
Pardon me for being crass, but...deets on the ring?
Otterlyfierce
Your story is absolutely lovely and made me smile. Have a wonderful wedding and a long and happy marriage. :)
GamblerFive
More imgurians at MIZZOU! I love it!
marylovesbigdipper
you are a beauty . inny and outy
Shiplee
Missouri State here, but still a tigers fan at heart(: thanks for the awesome story. Good luck to both of you!
kfc1314
Imgur has always seemed to be nicer than the rest of the internet... at least to me.
scirona
For today, I'll give you a MIZ. But as a gamecock, that is being redacted tomorrow! Great story of love and support! Congrats!
keefer
Wife'd him!
PBandBananas
You guys seem like just awesome people to hang around and you're a beautiful couple! Congrats!
labrat
I just got married to my high school sweetheart in October! Marriage is AWESOME! I hope you guys live a long, happy life together.
ConstantlySearchingForMyDadOnImgur
as a KU student, I would like to put the rivalry aside and give you my congrats
calg09
I thought that column looked familiar! Congratulations!!
calg09
...and also that Mizzou blanket!
SryTyler
Haha yeah, living in St. Louis I immediately recognized that blanket.
Rellik31
how long did it take from beginning to end? the whole healing process
hiimdoingwellhowareyou
MIZ!
ajhg38
ZOU!
jsktrogdor
HOW THA FUCK ALL DEZ UGLY ASS NIGGAS LAND THESE HOT ASS BITCHES DAT STICK WIT DEM THROUGH HORRIFIC INJURIES AN SHIT!?!?!! Can even get
jsktrogdor
my own hand to jack me off.... ~_~
iamagrocerybag
Your story has made my day, OP! Have a nice life with your hubby :)
ImgurnariumOfDoctorGiraffus
Just want him to know, I've had skin grafts on my chest/arms my entire life; after healing you won't be able to notice them unless you try.
DowntonCrabby
Thanks guys, that's so encouraging! I've been shocked at how little scarring he has considering everything. The human body is amazing!
trilliar
Fellow grafter here: agreed, the pain on donor site is intense, but 8 years later only I can "see" the donor site on my thigh (since I 1/x
trilliar
know what to look for) and as for the graft on my leg you can see it, but you really have to be looking, pantyhose = stealth mode (2/2)
ImgurnariumOfDoctorGiraffus
I've had mine for 25 of my 26 years, so I guess I've had a lot of heal time; but really they weren't noticeable by earliest photos at age 3.
trilliar
My graft was done when I was an adult, kids tend to heal much better, adults usually get more noticeable scarring, explains the difference
ImgurnariumOfDoctorGiraffus
As for the How? I Tommy Pickles'd the safety gate and climbed a chair to pull boiling tea on myself off the tabletop at age 1. First Steps!
amberlemons
OP, I'm sure the photographer would appreciate credit!!
DowntonCrabby
Oh yes! Good point! Meagan and Nate Photography took our engagement pictures (the last two photos in the album) :D
amberlemons
Thank you!! The best thing you can give a photographer is credit. I'd appreciate that over money any day :)
amberlemons
Plus, I now get to creep your E session in awe haha
theguysittingacrossfromyouinclass
yea he got burned but look what he gets to go home to everyday now... win
bigbrother
"But then the fire nation attacked"... that's both fucked up and awesome at the same time.
kungfuman
She sounds fun haha.
CatNapKing
I'm going to assume that "haha" means an imgurian "goddamn, why are half of us single. this fucking sucks. oh well."
EvilCheeseLog
"Haha"
quintusfontane
Yeah, I ended up dribbling a mouthful of tea down my front when I read that. I'm not even mad.
curlywutherkins
I laughed, and then reflected on what I had just done and was ashamed
omglolbah
Humor can be a life-saver.
Minnesotagurian
Its fularious!
itsTurknJDandJD
flami-o, hotman
CosmicallyFrustratedUniverse
she gets away with it because it's highly probable that now -they both- are laughing about it instead of suffering.
realsupersand
it was either them or us saying it. hue
demut
I didn’t get that one. Is that a reference to something?
antielovena
Thanks for asking because I didn't either.... thanks to those who answered! :)
powderstick
Avatar: The Last Airbender. The Cartoon. Not the horseshit movie by M. Night Shamalamadingdong.
Interpretivedance
M. Night Shatapon
BindersOfWomen
Where's a water bender when you need one.
ChemJen
Seriously. Katara could have healed him straight away.
LimonKay
Nah it's just awesome because this happened a very long time ago. He's all better now!
mariemcd
Congratulations on so many points - sticking with him, supporting him, engaging him. YOU are a treasure. I am so happy for both of you.
nym23
And he is a teddybear!
sam1tahsin
I am happy for them. I really am.
EatYourBacon
Where can I find a woman like this? Lots of respect for your faithfulness.
krdonnie
I can only imagine dude's name is Jesse
GeeUknit
Probably all around you. Care and love and dedication are not rare qualities, they're just not often seen and proven like this
theothercollin
wiser words are rarely spoken
JosephGordonLevittsLeftSock
just keep a look out and don't just pay attention to the really good looking chicks.
ImTheWalrus
I too am wondering this.
Proudfoots
Right here sweety ;)
Winterous
..But you're a guy :P
ImgurnariumOfDoctorGiraffus
Wolfman's got nards!
Proudfoots
I don't know what you're talking about..
Winterous
Your profile description: "I'm just your average 26 year old dude" etc. Although you be joking right now, can't quite tell.
Proudfoots
Hmmm...do really think somebody would do that? Just go on the internet and tell lies...? Do I seem like that type of woman to you?