White Island survivor, Melbourne woman Stephanie Browitt, shares details of incredible hand recovery
White Island volcano survivor Stephanie Browitt has revealed the horror of watching her skin melt from her hands in the moments after the eruption as she marks a milestone in her recovery from the tragedy.
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White Island volcano eruption survivor Stephanie Browitt has shared details of her incredible recovery on social media, six months after the tragedy that claimed the life of her dad, sister and 18 tourists.
The Craigieburn woman, 23, suffered third-degree burns to 70 per cent of her body and lost parts of her fingers in the eruption off New Zealand’s Whakatāne coast on December 9 last year.
“Funnily enough, when I found out my fingers had to go I wasn’t that upset. I think I was grateful that I still had my hands because when the eruption happened, I remember seeing my hands and realising how bad they were,” Ms Browitt posted on Instagram on Monday night.
“My nails were hanging off, skin in shreds and also peeling off and they were black and red in colour. So I was grateful it was just my first knuckle being amputated.”
Ms Browitt didn’t realise how much that amputation would affect her hand function and motor skills.
“You really don’t realise how much your body does for you until you lose the ability to do so,” she said.
In a video posted to Instagram, Ms Browitt explains her left hand has more range than her right. She can open her thumb wider, and almost touch her pinky, with her left hand.
Ms Browitt said her right hand was her “bad hand” as she couldn’t bend her fingers or straighten them. Her right thumb also had less range.
“Future surgeries will happen but I’m getting as much from therapy as I can first. Seeing the progress with my hands definitely makes my day, month and year though! Although it’s slow it’s such a big deal for me,” she said.
Ms Browitt said she was full of admiration for the medical team who have helped her recovery over the past six months.
“I can honestly never be more grateful enough towards the surgeons at The Alfred,” she said.
“They put so much care into my hands with my skin grafts and they’ve healed amazingly. I look forward to seeing more progress and achievements everyday.”
Ms Browitt was one of the 38 tourists who departed a cruise ship to tour New Zealand’s White Island at the time of eruption last year. The tragedy claimed the lives of 20 people, including 17 Australians and father Paul and sister Krystal.
Her mother, Marie, remained on board the cruise ship.
Ms Browitt arrived back at her family home in Craigieburn, just north of Melbourne, in May, after six months in hospital.
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Originally published as White Island survivor, Melbourne woman Stephanie Browitt, shares details of incredible hand recovery