Little Lois: Burn Survivor

This is a true story of faith, courage, love, and perseverance of a little girl who grew into a beautiful woman. Lois Call was eighteen months old when this story began.


Her mother, Martha Ann Call, was in the kitchen preparing the evening meal for the family. Little Lois asked for a drink and her mother didn’t hear the request so this little girl noticed a familiar cup sitting on the counter, walked over to it, stood on her tippy toes, and reached for it with her long thin fingers.


She was determined to get that cup, so she reached a little higher and stretched a little more until finally she was able to grab it. Slowly she pulled it towards the edge of the counter.


There was something in it, but she didn’t know what it was until it tipped over and spilled its contents onto her head, down her face and neck and onto her shoulders.


This beautiful, precious little girl let out a horrible scream. Startled, her mother turned towards the sound and saw Little Lois being burned by the hot grease, which only moments before she had poured into that cup. A feeling of panic and fear spread over her mother’s entire body.


She ran to her daughter, picked her up, and held her close. She felt so helpless and scared, and through her tears, she cried over and over, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”


She yelled to her older daughters, “Thella, Barbara! Call the doctor, hurry call the doctor! Call your father!”


The doctor was a family friend and arrived just after Little Lois’ father walked through the door. The doctor examined her thoroughly and bandaged her burned head and face before turning to talk with her parents. “Ann, Ambrose! As you know and can see, your daughter has a very serious burn. In fact, I don’t know if she will live or if she will die. And if she does live there is a possibility that she may be blind and perhaps even deaf.”


The doctor gave all the comfort he could to this little girl and her family. He left instructions with her parents to help them understand what they should do to provide the care their daughter so desperately needed. He left with his words floating around the minds of two shocked and frightened parents.


The doctor took a special interest in this little girl and checked on her regularly. A couple days later he came back to change her bandages. He slowly and carefully unwound them, trying to prevent as much pain as possible. But as he unwound them, the little girl’s hair came off her head with each unwinding of the bandage.


When the bandages were off the doctor also pulled the “proud flesh” (dead skin) off her head, causing even more pain and anguish. New bandages were put on, but this was only the beginning of the painful ordeal that would follow her for years.


Sometime later Little Lois was sitting on her mother’s lap, snuggling, and enjoying the closeness of a tender, loving mother while being rocked in the rocking chair kept in the kitchen. Suddenly, she noticed something and impulsively sat up, turned her head, pointed to a box of crackers in the open cupboard and with her soft little voice said, “Cookie, cookie!"


When her mother heard these simple yet meaningful words she began to cry. Her little girl was pointing to a box of crackers. She could see! This was the first time since that terrible day that her family knew she could see. That night the family had something to celebrate.


Like all children, Little Lois grew older, and the day finally arrived for her to leave the security of her home and start school. At school she discovered something that she was not expecting and that was name calling. The names were brutal, horrible, ugly names. “Hey, Scar Face,” someone would shout. “Where did you get that mask?” or “If I had a face like yours, I would keep it hidden!” and perhaps, “You scare us!”


Life goes on and time passes. Days become weeks, and weeks become months, and months become years, and during this time Little Lois adjusted to her burn and scars as best as she could. Being called names and ignored was difficult and hurtful. However, she had a bright side in her life, which gave her meaning and hope and courage to move forward. She had a family who loved her and supported her and accepted her, along with a few close friends who remained lifelong friends.


An opportunity for a life without scars occurred while Little Lois was in high school. Her older brother, Dick, had just finished his first year in medical school at the University of Utah and was working for the summer at St. Marks Hospital in Salt Lake City. It was at this time that a miracle, at least to Little Lois, occurred. Her brother became acquainted with a plastic surgeon with whom he talked concerning his little sister and the scars that were left from the burn.


The kind surgeon was intrigued by Dick’s story and asked him to invite Little Lois to come for an evaluation. Dick explained that his father would be very grateful if something could be done for Lois, but he was a proud man who was not well off and he lacked the finances to pay for expensive plastic surgery. Dick explained that his father’s pride wouldn’t allow him to accept charity. This good doctor encouraged Dick and told him to bring his sister to the office for a visit and he would work things out with his father.


Little Lois went to the doctor, financial arrangements were made, and soon after this visit she was in surgery having her first of seven plastic surgeries. Her last surgery was performed when she was in her third year at Utah State University. It was after this surgery, with bandages still on her head, that the man she would eventually marry first saw her.


I don’t know if this was love at first sight, but I do know that not long afterwards Little Lois married this cowboy barber from Star Valley, Wyoming. From this union they had one son (ME) and three daughters (Connie, Paulette, Sydnie). Mom passed away in May of 2004 at the age of 79.


One final thought. By the time the doctor performed the seventh and final surgery, he had removed most of Little Lois’ physical scars, but he was unable to cut out the emotional scars that became an integral part of this woman’s life. These scars remained with this beautiful woman, exceptional wife and mother, and exemplary grandmother until the day she died. She dealt with her pain and suffering with courage, a fighting spirit, and determination that couldn’t be kept down. Her legacy is found in the teaching of her posterity to love others and treat all people with the respect they need and deserve.


What a great message for us to share with our children.


Happy Failing Forward,