WAKING up after a very long surgery at Shriners Hospital for Children in Texas in the United States, just in time to give her stepmother Julian Mendez a birthday gift, was a big sign that 17-year-old burn victim Alecia King is pulling through.

King was asleep at home in Linstead, St Catherine, early in the morning on August 24 when her ex-boyfriend allegedly doused her with flammable liquid then set her on fire. She sustained life-threatening burns and was rushed to a local hospital, but despite efforts to keep her stable, she required advanced treatment and care.

Her burns were so severe that plans were made between her family and the Sanmerna Foundation to fly Alecia to Shriners in the US by air ambulance. Just under a week later, on August 29, she was airlifted from Jamaica, in serious condition, accompanied by her stepmother, who is there to support her as she undergoes a series of life-saving surgeries.

An elated Mendez, who was grateful that even in the state that Alecia is in, she could still manage to organise the purchase of a gift.

“We were bonding and crying together. I am so grateful to everyone who has helped Alecia, especially the Sanmerna Foundation. I am happy,” a thankful Mendez said on Thursday.

Stephen Josephs, projects manager of the Sanmerna Foundation, who visited Alecia in hospital and checked in with doctors for updates regularly, said that although the teen is showing positive signs on her road to recovery, she has been having good and bad days since being admitted to hospital on August 24.

“The first time I saw [her] in hospital in the US was on Tuesday. She asked me to get something for her stepmother’s birthday. She was really grateful to God for sparing her life and bringing her thus far. She said that her faith is strong and that God is with her. She wants everybody to continue praying for her. She said with God in the midst, she knows she will make it.

“On Wednesday, she was in surgery very long and came out just in time to celebrate her stepmother’s birthday. The Shriners staff is doing very good. A Jamaican practical nurse is a part of the team at Shriners. Alecia is at the largest burn unit at any Shriners Hospital in the US,” Josephs said.

Alecia’s ex-boyfriend, who is accused of setting her on fire while she slept, is still at large and Josephs wants Jamaicans to cooperate with the police and help them find him.

“Certainly it was a heinous crime. Jamaica should rally around to support the police and help in the capture of the person responsible for this crime. No stones must be left unturned. He must get his day in court,” Josephs said.