A five-year-old girl has been scarred for life after accidentally knocking boiling pasta off the hob at home.
Brave Bella Henderson’s chest was scolded by the piping hot water which she knocked off the stove when mum Emily, 34, was cooking spaghetti bolognese.
But Emily turned her back for 'five seconds' and the water scolded her daughter.
Bella, from Southampton, Hamps, spent seven days in hospital and had an operation to remove the damaged tissue.
Emily, who is a print analyst, is sharing her story to raise awareness of burn injuries caused at home.
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She told Mirror Online: “Bella is so sensible; I never thought something like this would happen to her.
"The bolognese was in the microwave and the pasta was on the hob.
"I told her lunch will be ready soon, as I stepped out of the room for a split second.
"My back was turned for no more than five seconds and that's when I heard horrendous screaming.
"I was only about two metres away!
“She was yanking at her top but couldn’t get any words out and that’s when I saw the pot was on the floor.
"Bella had stood on her tip toes and knocked the pot of the hob to see if the pasta was ready.
“I was panicking but knew I had to act fast.
“I immediately ripped her top off her and darted up the stairs to put her in a cold shower.
“Bella's screams for help and her shivering from being so cold will forever haunt me forever.
“She was uncontrollable and that’s when I noticed how serious it was.”
Bella’s skin was ‘falling off’ which prompted Emily to call 999.
The youngster was given morphine and paracetamol but that didn’t take the pain away.
She was blue-lighted to Southhampton General Hospital and then transferred to Salisbury burns unit.
Emily added: “Bella was in a cold shower for 15 minutes at home and a further five minutes at the hospital.
“The doctors had to scrub the burn to get the dead layer of skin off whilst Bella had gas and air.
“It was horrible to watch her scream in pain.
“It was touch and go on whether she would need skin graft.
“Thankfully she didn’t but she was crying for days as she had intense itching and rashes.”
Bella was pumped with antibiotics and treated for suspected toxic shock syndrome after the accident in February.
After five days, Bella had a debridement operation - a procedure which uses water to remove the dead tissue.
Emily said: “They used a high power water jet to blast the burn and find healthy tissue underneath.
“I felt like I was in a black tunnel and couldn’t see the light at the end.
“I couldn’t believe this had happened to my little girl.
“But she was so brave and didn’t complain about the scar once.
“The worst part was every dressing change. They had to be pin her down and even on morphine she was still in pain.”
Bella’s father, David, 32, who is an IT manager, stayed at the hospital whilst Emily looked after their youngest daughter Elsie, then 20 months.
They praised the Children’s Burns Trust for offering support throughout their time in the hospital.
Emily said: “We can’t thank the charity enough.
“They provide the beds for adults who need to stay in the hospital with their children.
“They also use the money to give children little gifts to take their mind off what has happened to them.”
Now, eight months on, Bella’s scar still needs moisturising three times per day.
The pandemic has put a hold on laser surgery which would make the scar flatter.
Emily said: “Bella is the bravest person I know.
“It breaks my heart that she will have this scar for life but we have told her not to be ashamed.
“She will happily show her friends and family as she has accepted it is apart of her now.
“I am gutted that she hasn’t been able to get laser surgery as her scar is now thick and lumpy.
“The laser would also remove the redness.”
The couple are sharing Bella’s story to warn other parents of accidents that can occur at home.
Emily said: “I never imagined going through anything as traumatic as seeing my little girl in such an awful state.
“It is such a common accident but I hope Bella’s story prevents it.
“A cup of tea is enough to cause a burn as bad s Bella’s.
“Bella now has anxiety about the temperature of food and the shower.
“She stays away from the hob and makes sure her sister Elsie doesn’t get too close either.”
