An elderly woman, aged 82, sustained severe burns down to the muscle and bone after dozing off while sunbathing, as per her daughter’s account. Betty Lou Summer was at the Johnson Ranch community pool in San Tan Valley on June 11 when an hour under the scorching Arizona sun turned into a life-threatening situation when she fell asleep. Discovered unconscious with severe heat stroke and third-degree burns, she was found by passers-by.
Michelle Gabbert, Summer’s daughter, described the extensive burns on her mother’s front body, emphasizing the severity of the injuries. Summer was immediately treated with wet towels and moved to shade before being rushed to the Valleywise Burn Center where medical professionals also identified liver and kidney damage and severe shock.
The burns, affecting approximately 30% of her body, were not only due to sun exposure but also due to contact with a metal chair, as reported by the Daily Star. Gabbert shared that areas of her mother’s body in contact with the metal chair were severely burned, highlighting the extent of the damage.
Summer, who had recently retired, required ventilator support and dialysis and underwent multiple surgeries to remove the burnt and dead skin. Gabbert, who was abroad at the time, expressed concern about her mother’s condition, mentioning that Summer was expected to remain in the hospital’s burns unit for at least another month.
Multiple skin grafts will be necessary in the following weeks once her tissues have sufficiently healed. Gabbert, a doctor herself, explained that her mother’s age played a significant role in the severity of the burns and the challenging recovery process due to factors like thin skin, reduced subcutaneous fat, slower healing, and temperature regulation issues common in older individuals.
Gabbert hopes to raise awareness about the risks of sun exposure through her mother’s ordeal, advising people to take precautions such as using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and staying hydrated when spending time outdoors. Reflecting on the situation, Gabbert expressed disbelief at the unexpected turn of events within her family.
Donations to support Summer’s recovery can be made through the GoFundMe page linked here.