Plane Crash Survivor, Kechi Okwuchi Bares Her Facial Scars As She Reflects On Her 16-Years Recovery Journey
The life of Nigerian plane survivor and singer, Kechi Okwuchi can be described as one of great resilience, strength, and bravery.
The America’s Got Talent finalist, was one of the two survivors of the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash that killed 107 people including her friends and classmates.
Kechi had sustained third degree burns over 65% of her body and was given a 30% chance of survival.
The burn survivor endured more than 100 reconstructive surgeries including skin grafts while completing her education despite her incredibly tough recovery.
In a recent post, the 31-year-old Nigerian-American singer reflected on her journey so far as she stated that genuine change and growth do not come overnight.
Sharing a photo from 2007, a year after the horrific incident, and a new one taken on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, Kechi expressed gratitude to God for being alive to watch her progress.
Below is her full post…
“Wonder if I should tag this as sensitive content…?) I stumbled upon the picture on the left on my laptop a couple months ago, and I have been contemplating this post since then.
I remember I stared at it for a long time that day. Time makes me forget just how extensive my burn injuries were, and how devastating the effects were to my body.
The pic on the left was taken a good year after the plane crash and by then, intense scar tissue had formed, esp on my face.
I took the pic on the right a few mins ago and made these before/afters, and I marvel at how far God has brought me. I am the result of the hard work of multiple surgeons He brought into my life, nurses, physiotherapists, and love and care from my family, my mom especially.
This is what progress looks like, guys. 2 pictures, 14 years apart. I’m grateful that I lived long enough to see it.
I decided to make this post so that you guys can marvel at God with me. I want someone who reads this to see that true progress, genuine growth, and lasting change cannot happen overnight.
Most of the time during the journey, maybe like me, you won’t notice changes because day by day they’re too minuscule to make a difference.
But if you give yourself a fighting chance, if you find the right kind of support on your journey, one day, definitely one day, you will look back like I did this morning and hopefully…you will smile.
I heard this in a song and it stuck with me: The night will definitely come. But so will the morning.
I never post things like this arbitrarily. As always, please be encouraged. #survivor #burnsurvivor #inspiration #encouragement #beautyinscars Special s/o to @shrinerstexas @dr.petergrossman @drandrewfrankel @artistsfortrauma, Milpark Hospital, South Africa and Shell Hospital PH, Nigeria, for sewing into my burn recovery journey??.”
I believe you know this… That God has a great plan for you, that is why he kept you alive. Congratulation KECHI. we love you but Jesus love you more. Never look than on yourself, the plan of Jesus for you as not yet come through. World is coming to know you. Love you.