A girl who is one of just a handful of people in the world to have survived 90% burns was cheered on by friends and family as she arrived for her school prom in a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce.
Terri Calvesbert, 16, was just 23 months old when she suffered horrific burns by a fire which broke out in her bedroom in Ipswich, Suffolk in November 1998. The fire was accidentally caused by her mother's lit cigarette, which her mother had inadvertently left.
Terri lost her hair, nose, eyelids and fingers in the blaze and firefighters who found her in her cot initially thought she was a burnt doll but, miraculously, she survived.
Terri's mother was so wracked with guilt that she eventually left her daughter and husband and broke off contact with them leaving Terri's father to have to leave work and bring up Terri, and help her through her through the 50 painful operations she has had, on his own. Some people have asked for him to be honoured by the Queen.
Girl, 16, whose face was burned off in house blaze started by mother's cigarette aged two, is cheered on as she arrives for school prom in Rolls-Royce
- Terri Calvesbert was scarred for life in house fire aged two
- Firefighters thought little girl was a 'charred doll' when they found her
- Lost face and hands in the blaze and has undergone multiple operations
[*]Terri, 16, from Ipswich celebrated school prom with friends
[*]Said it was a wonderful evening. 'She loved it,' her father said
[*]Now plans to study animal care after GCSE results come in
15 July 2013
Daily Mailhttp://forums.canadiancontent.net/#comments
The school leavers' ball - or prom, as they are increasingly called - is one of the landmark events in a teenage girl's life, marking the end of years of hard work.
It has become a crucial rite of passage for teenagers everywhere. But for 16-year-old Terri Calvesbert her school prom was even more significant than most.
Terri was scarred for life in a devastating fire at her home in Ipswich, Suffolk, when she was a two-year-old baby.
Big celebration: Terri Calvesbert, 16, who was scarred for life after being caught in a house fire aged two, dressed up for her school leavers' prom with her friends and said she had a 'wonderful evening'
But as Terri leaves her school days behind and heads off to college in September, she joined her friends from Westbourne Academy at its school prom in Henley, Oxfordshire at the weekend.
And, of course, there was only one way for the excited teen to arrive in style - in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce.
Like most other teenagers, she was slightly nervous before the prom, but once on her way, Terri had a great time.
She said: 'It was really nice to be with my friends and with the teachers. It was a wonderful evening.
Having a ball: Terri Calvesbert and her friends from the former Westbourne Sports College enjoyed their evening held at All Manor of Events in Henley
'There were more than 100 people there and it was just great to have such a good night out.'
Her whole family turned out to see Terri head off to the big evening - father Paul, 40, was joined by his wife Nicky, 45, and grandparents Mick and Margaret.
And when Terri arrived at the school prom at All Manor of Events at Henley she was the star of the show as she was cheered by her school friends.
The teenager is now hoping to relax during the summer before learning how she has done in her GCSE exams when the results come out next month.
Terri is planning to go on to study animal care at Otley College, Ipswich, in September to open the next chapter in her life.
Paul said he had been very proud to see his daughter go off to the prom and enjoy life like any other teenager.
'She loved it.
'She's been a bit tired after a couple of busy days but she's really been able to enjoy herself,' he said.
A big send off: Terri's dad Paul and her stepmum Nicky and her grandparents Mick and Margaret gathered to watch her head off for prom. Paul said he had been very proud to see his precious daughter go off to the prom and enjoy life like any other teenager
Terri Calvesbert nearly died from 90 per cent burns after the fire when she was just 23 months old when her mother accidentally left a lit cigarette in her bedroom.
Firefighters attending the scene thought they had found a 'charred doll' when they saw Terri's body. Horrifically, the only part of her body that escaped burns was the patch of skin protected by her wet nappy.
Doctors at specialist burns unit in Chelmsford thought Terri Calvesbert would die from the burns, but incredibly, she pulled through.
Terri lost her hair, nose and eyelids in the devastating blaze.
Her mother, Ms Minter, then 32, was so wracked with guilt after the episode that she cut off almost all contact with her husband and daughter. The two have since discussed the incident and Ms Minter says Terri has forgiven her.
Terri now lives with her father Paul, a community fire volunteer and stepmother Nicky.
Ms Minter left the family just two months after the accident, and Terri has had more than 50 painful operations since then to stretch her scarred skin.
The teenager, who wears a blonde wig, will continue to need surgery and skin grafts for the rest of her life.
Her plight has touched thousands of hearts and donations have poured in from all over the world.
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