Woman Hit by Firework That Broke Every Bone in Her Face

Before the accident, Kristie lived life to the fullest. She loved every minute of every day. She played guitar and loved kayaking. Life changed forever in 2015 when she was struck by a firework that broke every bone in her face and caused her to lose her right eye.

Celebrating Independence Day at a BBQ with family and friends, Kristie, 35, enjoyed music, swimming, fireworks, and conversation with her closest loved ones. All was great until a three-inch artillery mortar firework malfunctioned. The firework shot sideways instead of into the air, shooting her directly in the face.

"A friend attending the celebration cleared my airways and saved my life or I would have died on scene," Kristie told an ABC News affiliate.

The firework shattered her left eye, leaving her with only 30% vision, and broke the front of her skull and every bone in her upper face. Kristie was transported to the University of Louisville, where she spent five weeks in a coma in the ICU fighting for her life. She suffered a brain hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury that left her paralyzed on the right side of her body.

She has no recollection of the incident.

"The last thing I remember is swimming in the pool earlier that day. But, from what I've been told, no one really knows what went wrong. But one of the fireworks must have been faulty because instead of going into the air to explode it went sideways. I was just standing in the wrong place at the wrong time."

She spent several weeks in a hospital where she endured 80 surgeries before she was transferred to a rehabilitation center. All of this eventually led to a stroke and multiple infections along with 327 days at Frasier Rehab.

 "By the grace of God I was alive," she told ABC News.

But life was different, much different than she had known. Losing her ability to stand or walk meant she could no longer work, adding a financial strain to her already difficult situation.

Kristie was fitted for a prosthetic eye in 2019 and now spends her life motivating others and showing them they can do anything.

Life has not been easy, but Kristie continues to appreciate every day a little bit more nowadays. She has several nieces and nephews who help her keep on, keepin' on, even when the days are rough.

She also promotes fireworks safety, hoping to give others important information so they never endure the same fate.