A Nigerian child's story of survival and hope
By Lee Tae-hoon
It was around 2 a.m. last year, on a cold winter’s day, when Beauty Ossy smelled gas and woke up to find out that a fire had already gutted her living room and kitchen.
It was too late to escape the house through the front door as flames roared across the hallway. Beauty shut the door of her bedroom, where she slept with her daughter Vanessa, then 7, and 4-year-old son Prince, as was usual during her husband’s business trips to Africa, to try and prevent the flames and smoke spreading there.
Prince Ossy shows a picture of his former house burned down in a fire in December last year.
She called the 119 Emergency Center for help and screamed through wrought iron bars with all her might to wake her neighbors or draw the attention of any passers-by.
In five minutes, the fire swept through the room and she could feel the blazing heat on her back and arms as she wrapped herself around the children to protect them.
Prince plays with Lego blocks with his scarred hands.
Firefighters, who arrived on the scene to see fire engulfing the whole house, say Beauty saved her two children through a maternal sacrifice that left deep scars on her back.
Unfortunately, Vanessa was too big for Beauty to cover all of her body along with Prince. He son only suffered burns to his hands, whereas nearly 70 percent of Vanessa’s body was damaged, including her arms, legs, head and chin.
Vanessa Ossy returns home after staying in her restaurant in Itaewon, Seoul.
Despite being covered by National Health Issuance, Beauty had to pay 48 million won ($44,220) for the first hospital bill for her and Vanessa due to the severity of injuries.
“Everything burned down and I didn’t have a single shirt to wear after being hospitalized,” Beauty said as she struggled to hold back tears.
Vanessa Ossy, left, her mother Beauty, center, and her brother Prince sit on a couch in their new basement home in Itaewon on Nov. 22. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul
The family has lost nearly all of their assets and now lives in a basement half the size of their previous home but they have maintained a positive attitude.
Vanessa, who wanted to be a teacher, now dreams of becoming a nurse after being inspired by the dedication of a nurse that treated her with loving care, like a real sister.
She is expected to undergo further surgery this week.