Inspirational White Island survivor shares harrowing photo taken moments after waking from a coma last Christmas after blast that killed her dad and sister - and her message will break your heart
A brave White Island volcano survivor has shared a harrowing photo revealing how she spent last Christmas as she woke up from a two-week coma.
Stephanie Browitt, 24, was touring the island with her 21-year-old sister Krystal and their father Paul when the volcano erupted off the coast of New Zealand on December 9, 2019.
Her father and sister were among the 22 victims killed in the blast.
Ms Browitt has opened up about her recovery after suffering third degree burns to 70 per cent of her body and losing parts of her fingers.
Sharing an emotional photo with friends that was taken on Boxing Day last year - two days after she woke up - the 24-year-old said that despite being covered head-to-toe in bandages, underneath she was smiling.
Stephanie Browitt shared a photo of herself after waking up from a two-week coma after the horrific White Island volcano eruption
The 24-year-old was touring the island with her 21-year-old sister Krystal and their father Paul when the volcano erupted off the coast of New Zealand on December 9, 2019
'The last two days as I was slowly coming to was 'horrible', mum said. I was extremely delirious, suffered from flashbacks, didn't know where I was and had no comprehension of my situation,' Ms Browitt wrote.
'On the 24th of December, that finally stopped. I was awake, in so much pain and unable to move but awake! I started talking to my mum properly and was able to get a basic understanding of my current situation.'
She said upon learning her father was in the ICU next door, she found out her mother and friends had visited her each day in hospital.
'Unexplainable' joy is what she said she felt during the first time she saw her mum since the disaster.
'The thoughts that went through my mind whilst waiting for help on the 9th of December, was that ''I had to survive for mum'',' she said.
Stephanie (pictured ) suffered third degree burns to 70 per cent of her body and lost a number of her fingers
Marie Browitt (left with her family) was the only member of the family to stay on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship when the tragedy struck
'''Mum won't survive without us, I have to hold on for her.'' I made it for mum and all I wanted was for her to stay by my side, which she did always.'
Two days after she woke up from her coma, Ms Browitt was allowed to be briefly taken out of her room and out onto the ICU floor.
Staring out a hospital window surrounded by her two best friends, she said that despite what had happened to her she was simply happy to be alive.
'I couldn't move, eat or do anything really but I was so happy to be awake and I promise you under those bandages in this photo I was smiling,' she said.
Ms Browitt has become a beacon of inspiration for those who have experienced trauma in their lives, and regularly shares update of her road to recovery.
Last week she detailed how she now has to undergo rounds of painstaking fraxel laser treatment on her face and neck to help her scars heal.
Ms Browitt has become a beacon of inspiration for those who have experienced trauma in their lives, and regularly shares update of her road to recovery
She revealed she looks forward to the treatment, because 'it's one step closer to not needing it'.
Stephanie explained that the laser treatment stimulates scar regeneration by creating microscopic holes in the tissue.
It will also hopefully improve the functional ability and mobility of the scar tissue, while also improving the appearance.
The ultimate goal is that the treatment will reduce some of the redness on Ms Browitt's face and flatten raised sections - though she understands it will never entirely get rid of it.
'This will be quite an ongoing thing for me in the long term as I cannot do all of my burns areas at once,' she explained.
Ms Browitt's mother Marie was the only member of the family to stay on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship when the tragedy struck.
After the incident, the 24-year-old spent six months in hospital and now wears special clothing to protect her burns.
Stephanie is seen with her sister Krystal. Tragically Krystal was killed in the blast on December 9 last year
The fatal explosion off the coast of Whakatane, New Zealand, claimed the lives of 22 of the 47 people on the island on December 9, 2019
Earlier this month, she posted a tribute to her late sister on Instagram on what would have been her 22nd birthday.
'My beautiful baby sister Krystal, today you should be celebrating your 22nd birthday with us and your friends. Instead, you aren't,' she wrote.
'You should still be here, you deserved so, so much better in life but instead we were let down by multiple people.
'I hope dad's holding you tight and hugging you for both mum and myself.'
There were 47 people on White Island, also named Whakaari, when the volcano erupted. Only 25 people made it out alive.
Ms Browitt's sister Krystal was killed in the initial blast, while her father died later in hospital.
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