White Island volcano survivor Stephanie Browitt is nervously preparing for a big moment

Brave Stephanie Browitt has come a long way since suffering horrific burns in the volcano eruption which killed her dad and sister. Now she’s ready to take a huge, next step.

White Island volcano survivor Stephanie Browitt is bravely preparing to show her face to the world.

Nearly two-and-a-half years after suffering horrific burns in the eruption that killed her father and sister, Stephanie, 25, has revealed she no longer needs to wear a body compression garment and her full face bandage will be coming off soon.

“I am, of course, excited and thrilled, but equally as nervous,” she said.

“They (the facial compression garments) have been extremely uncomfortable to wear, so I’ll be very happy when they are no longer needed but it’ll also be scary . . . I’m sure I’ll feel quite vulnerable at the beginning.”

White Island survivor Stephanie Browitt has shared her recovery journey, as she heals from horrific burns, and is now preparing to remove her final face mask. Source: Instagram

Stephanie is amazed her hands are starting to function, thanks to multiple surgeries and regular therapy. Source: Instagram

Her mother, Marie Browitt, told the Herald Sun this week Stephanie was inspirational in her positivity but her face “unveiling” in the next few weeks would likely be “petrifying”, with the possibility her daughter would be subjected to “nasty comments” from strangers.

Stephanie has recently shown off her fading limb and torso scars on social media, stepping out in gym gear as she embarks on a fitness campaign.

And she has celebrated the fact even her disfigured hands – that she feared would be “useless” for the rest of her life – were improving, thanks to surgery and therapy.

“The difference my range of motion has made to my everyday life is immense . . . I no longer feel like a burden . . . I once again feel like a capable woman,” she said.

On Wednesday Stephanie shared a video of her stomach skin grafts, explaining the “kind of funny” reason patches of her skin were “perfect, not burnt at all”.

“It’s my fat roll, my fat roll protected me. Thanks body, I guess,” she laughs.

Stephanie has progressively removed bandages and compression garments, and revealed more of her body to her scores of social media followers. Source: Instagram

She fought to survive, now inspirational Stephanie is returning to fighting fit. Picture: Instagram.

Stephanie has courageously shared her recovery journey on her social media platforms, where she has amassed nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram, 1.4m on TikTok and gained close to 27,000 YouTube subscribers, as she seeks to inspire other burns victims.

The young Craigieburn woman was on a cruise day trip to New Zealand’s White Island with her father Paul and sister Krystal on December 9, 2019, when its volcano erupted, killing 22 people and injuring others.

Paul and Krystal were among the fatalities, while Stephanie suffered third-degree burns to about 70 per cent of her body and lost parts of her fingers; spending months in Melbourne’s Alfred hospital.

Stephanie Browitt spent months in The Alfred hospital after waking from a coma. She has come a long way since then. Picture: Instagram

Marie remained on board the Royal Caribbean owned Ovation of the Seas ship, escaping physical injury.

The devoted mum said she was immensely proud of Stephanie’s progress, but not a day passed when she did not grieve for Krystal, Paul and the happy family life she once had.

“My nightmares never end. I wish I could just hold them and tell them how loved they are . . . if only I could turn back time. . . . I have my tears, candles, flowers photos and the cemetery now, but we no longer have ‘a home’,” Marie said.

“We are basically suspended in time . . . time has stood still for me since the loss of my heart and soul. I go to bed in the hope I dream of my family’s voices and faces.”

Stephanie with her devoted mum Marie and dog Arlo shortly after being released from hospital, and returning to her Craigieburn home. Picture: Alex Coppel

Stephanie with her sister Krystal, who tragically died in the White Island volcano eruption. Picture: Facebook

The Browitts, along with other families of White Island victims, are now pursuing lawsuits to hold Royal Caribbean liable for the deaths and injuries, in the international cruise giant’s home base of Miami.

However, according to recent reports in the Miami New Times, Royal Caribbean is trying to have the Browitts cut out of the U.S. action, and force their case into the Australian court system, where compensation payouts can be smaller.

The Herald Sun has contacted the Browitts’ U.S. legal team and Royal Caribbean for comment.

Marie said Stephanie’s burns treatment had been delayed by Covid and the fact the Alfred’s burns unit was not as well funded as it should be, meaning the best possible laser scar-reducing treatment was not readily available to her daughter.

Stephanie with her father Paul on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship before the volcano tragedy. Picture: Supplied

“Unless we travel interstate for those treatments, which is difficult to do in our circumstances, she has no choice but to wait until appropriate and much-needed funding to purchase this laser equipment is allocated to Melbourne,” Marie said.

“We have been told other hospitals have this treatment available (for) burns and scars, both overseas and interstate . . . the government needs to step up and allocate more money towards necessary medical equipment.”