I looked at old texts and it was right about now, 1215 am on February 19th, that I texted my family acknowledging that it was bad after seeing and talking to Kodi. I had known it was bad but had hoped it wasn’t. It was the car parked in the ER entry still running with doors open when we pulled up. And it was the bits and chunks of charred clothing that left a trail from the car to the entrance to the ER, but I had still hoped. 

The next time we saw her she was asleep, medicated and being readied for transport to Salt Lake. Helicopter or plane? They decided plane. By the time it arrived from Moses Lake, WA she and Kim were on their way at around 2 am. I went home packed a few things and told her brother who’d been asleep when we left for the hospital in Boise. I arrived at the hospital in Salt Lake around 8 am, Kodi was in her first surgery.

Each yearly milestone for a burn survivor is called their ‘burnaversary’. Just this past Friday we were back in Salt Lake. For her first one, Kodi wanted to see the folks at the hospital who had helped her recover. The team was happy to see her and pleased with how well she has recovered. Her mobility, range of motion and functionality are really good.

While we were there we had a consult with her surgeon in preparation for her next surgery. A surgery to release scars around her mouth, eyes and maybe neck. No date yet but probably this spring sometime. 

It has been a year in which Kodi has overcome so much to get back to being Kodi. She gave permission to share photos of her first few days and weeks in the hospital. Those compared to the photo of Kodi and a friend she ran into Saturday at the Hunt Expo say it all. 

It has been a hard year but made easier by the compassion, kindness, selflessness, and generosity of so many. So many we know but also so many we don’t. Thank you all.