JESSIE’S JOY
Prom night for burns victim
Thousands of pounds has been raised to help support a girl whose face, neck and legs were burned in a fire pit accident.
Jessica Symons, 10, was with her father when flames from a fire pit fanned out, burning 18% of her body.
In the space of six weeks Jessie, as she prefers to be known, has undergone a skin graft and lost all of her hair, but still made it to her end of school prom.
Mum Marta Peck, from Forest Road, Paddock Wood, said: “I don’t know where Jessie gets her strength from, she’s been amazing.
“She’s got big scars but she doesn’t mind showing them off, she was more concerned when the doctors said she’d lose her hair.
“I told her whatever hair cut she has, we’ll have it together so we’ve both had our hair shaved off.”
Jessie returned to Paddock Wood Primary to spend the final days of the school year with her friends - and even made it to the prom.
Mrs Peck said: “We already had the dress when the accident hap- pened. Even a week before the prom we didn’t think she should be able to make it.
“We were worried about her confidence and health, but doctors said she wouldn’t need another skin graft so she got to go, it was very emotional.”
Days before the accident, the mother-of-three handed in her notice to start a new job as a carer.
The scale of Jessie’s injuries led Mrs Peck to put off starting her new job, and now friends and strangers alike have helped support the family in the mean time.
More than £4,000 has been raised to keep the family going until Mrs Peck can return to work.
She said: “I’m more of a giving person, receiving all of this money has been overwhelming. I’ve been so emotional.”
Jessie is now preparing to join Hillview School for Girls in Tonbridge come September.
Help support the Jessie on her road to recovery by visiting tinyurl.com/jessiesjourney.
‘In six weeks Jessie has undergone a skin graft and lost her hair’