Imagine jetting off to Sardinia with your mates to catch your favourite band, only for it to turn into a nightmare. That’s exactly what happened to Annie Perez. Diagnosed with epilepsy as a teen, the 38-year-old’s holiday took a terrifying turn when she suffered a seizure in a hot shower, leaving her with severe burns that meant she couldn’t walk for a staggering 18 months.
After a lovely breakfast with a view at her villa, Annie stepped into the shower, not expecting her life to change in moments. Her friends, noticing water seeping under the bathroom door, found her in distress and sprang into action. She was rushed to a local health centre and airlifted to a hospital in Sardinia, then later transferred to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London for further treatment.
Annie endured burns on 11% of her body, with some injuries so deep they went to the bone. After months in a wheelchair, a frame, and then walking sticks, Annie’s journey to recovery has been long and challenging. Today, she still battles the aftermath, with ongoing laser and physiotherapy, and the emotional toll of nerve damage affecting her daily life.
Despite the trauma, Annie revisited Sardinia a year later, determined to create better memories, even visiting the hospital that treated her. Now, she’s raising funds to freeze her eggs, hoping to start a family in the future, a dream nearly sidelined by her accident.
If you’d like to help Annie on her journey, you can donate to her GoFundMe. Life threw her a curveball, but Annie’s spirit is as tenacious as ever. Life can change in a heartbeat—stay brave, Annie! 🌟