Single Mom of 4 Severely Burned by Bonfire While on Vacation for Friend’s Wedding
A single mom of four children suffered severe third-degree burns over 30 percent of her body from a bonfire while on vacation in Michigan to attend a friend’s wedding.
Her family is seeking help to bring her home and continue what they say will be months of therapy.
The details of what happened to Tami Chmielweski, of Gilbert, Arizona, on Aug. 28, were not revealed, although most of the burns were on her legs and feet, Chmielweski’s daughter Brooklyn Hardwick told AZFamily.com-3TV.
Even so, doctors predict she will need to undergo at least six months of physical therapy to recover, and she remains for now in the Hennepin County Medical Center burn unit in Minneapolis, Minn., according to a GoFundMe donation page created by her family.
“Our mom is strong, selfless, caring, and so determined as an individual,” they wrote. “The first concern she voiced was her concern for the others that witnessed/were involved in the accident and asked how they were doing.”
The mother of three adult children and one minor child already has undergone multiple daily procedures to remove her burned skin, additional procedures under anesthesia and at least one round of skin-grafting, according to the family.
On Saturday, the family wrote: “Mom had a strenuous day working with the therapy team today. Those of you that know her, know she loves working out and pushing herself. That hasn’t changed, she was so close to standing on her own today. One day at a time and constantly reminding her to extend herself GRACE. Long road ahead, but I think she’s up for the challenge. We will be alongside her and continue looking forward.”
On the GoFundMe post, which already has collected pledges totaling nearly $60,000, they also said: “This accident has been and will be life-altering. A lot of therapy physically and mentally will need to take place over the next months and years to recover from this.”
“A big hurdle we will be facing is getting her back to Arizona safely and comfortably, as it will not be covered by insurance due to it being a lateral transfer,” her family said.
“A medical flight back to Arizona is estimated to cost around $80,000,” they wrote. “Her children have put together this fundraiser to assist our mother in relieving her the best we can of the financial burden.”
None of Chmielweski’s children have been able to see her.
