A brave woman has spoken out to say that her husband accidentally set her on fire in a terrible firepit accident. This left her with severe burns and forced her to undergo reconstructive surgery worth more than $2.9million.

Tonya Meisenbach, 48-year-old influencer from Atlanta, Georgia, recalls how her husband Donald accidentally poured lighter fluid onto her while setting a fire in their garden in December 2018.

Tonya’s arm and face were set on fire by the mistake. She was left in pain and suffering severe burns. Tonya had to be kept in a medically-induced for two months to allow her body to heal.        

Tonya was quickly taken to the hospital and, while she was still in coma doctors performed a series extensive reparative surgeries. This included a complete skin graft.

Agony: A 48-year-old woman was left with horrific burns all over her face and body after her husband accidentally set her on fire while trying to light a firepit in their backyard

Agony: A 48-year-old woman was left with horrific burns all over her face and body after her husband accidentally set her on fire while trying to light a firepit in their backyard

Agony: 48-year-old woman was left with severe burns on her face and body after her husband accidentally set fire to a firepit they had in their backyard. 

Devastating: Tonya Meisenbach, from Atlanta, Georgia, was enjoying an outdoor dinner with her husband Donald when he accidentally sprayed her with lighter fluid

Devastating: Tonya Meisenbach, from Atlanta, Georgia, was enjoying an outdoor dinner with her husband Donald when he accidentally sprayed her with lighter fluid

'I went up like a match': The accident left Tonya with such severe burns that she had to be placed in a medically-induced coma for two months while doctors rushed to save her life

'I went up like a match': The accident left Tonya with such severe burns that she had to be placed in a medically-induced coma for two months while doctors rushed to save her life

Tonya’s accident left her with so severe burns that she was forced to stay in a medically-induced bed for two months. Doctors rushed to save Tonya’s life.

Tonya spent six total months in hospital. She would return frequently for various surgeries even after she was released.

Tonya’s husband Donald, furious at his actions, stayed beside her at all times and kept a diary for her after she was out of the coma.

The hospital provided $2.3 million for her surgeries but were unable to pay any more – and Tonya had no insurance. The staff applied for state aid for her and were able to secure additional funding.

In total, her surgeries have cost over $2.9 million – and she’s only halfway done.

“My husband and me were outside with a firepit a week before Christmas 2018.” Tonya stated that it was getting late so she decided to go inside to get the meat for dinner.

“When I returned from work, I reached for the barbecue to cook the meat. My husband was still igniting the fire, but I wasn’t aware. He squirted the lighter fluid onto my hair, my arms, and my clothes.

“I went up as a match.”

“I was in the hospital for six more months after that. Due to the pain and having to have surgery every week for the first two month, I was in a medically-induced coma.

Recovery: While in her coma, Tonya underwent multiple operations, including a full face skin graft - and she has had to face many more operations in the months since she woke up

Recovery: Tonya went through multiple operations while in coma. She had a full-face skin graft and many other operations since her wake up. 

Ongoing: Tonya's surgeries have cost a staggering $2.9 million - and she believes she is only halfway through her treatments

Ongoing: Tonya's surgeries have cost a staggering $2.9 million - and she believes she is only halfway through her treatments

 Ongoing: Tonya’s surgeries have cost a staggering $2.9 million – and she believes she is only halfway through her treatments 

‘All the skin that you see on me – none of that is my burned skin. It was too badly burnt to be saved. Even my face is a complete skin graft.

“When I woke, I spent a month trying my best to get my bearings. I worked with physical therapists. All my muscles had weakened.

“I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t swallow.” I couldn’t even move around in bed.

‘While I stayed in hospital, my husband was angry about the accident and afraid of losing me. He kept a log that’s just for us, because he said that the worst part of being unable to communicate with me was not being capable of speaking to him.

“Then they sent my to a rehab center for one month. But while I was there, I got a horrible scalp infection. It was a fungal infection – a type of fungus not usually found in humans.

“I couldn’t reach my scalp because my arms wouldn’t bend at the time, so I couldn’t scratch my head. Because my head was so itchy I would use tongue scrapers and other items that the doctors left behind.

“Ultimately, I was septic from all the scratching and had to return to the hospital.

‘I’ve just had surgery on my eyes – I’ve always had weak eye muscles, but when I was in the coma, my right eye turned the opposite way.

‘I have had trouble recovering, but now I feel so blessed because my eyes will be straight.

“I still have at most 15 to 20 more operations to go. You can expect 50 to 100 operations if you burn more than 50% of your body. I was only burnt over 35%.

Tonya and her husband were connected through a friend to Miriam Lazo Chavez (52), a Marietta caretaker. Miriam has been Tonya’s friend and nurse for more than two years.

Tonya credits her incredible support system, and her love of makeup with helping her find the confidence to live again and inspire others.

Tonya said, “I’m very fortunate with the people around my because I couldn’t live without them,”

‘My husband was amazing – he stayed with me the whole time. He was there to me in hospital for six months. After that, he learned how to administer my medication, clean my wounds, and bathe my body – everything.

“My daughter was a veterinarian major at the time. When I woke up, she said that she had switched to nursing after seeing the benefits it had provided for me.

“My ultimate goal is for me to be able raise a lot money and help many people. But recognition is important because there are so many charities out there.

She hopes that her modeling and makeup will help others go through the same thing she did.

‘Makeup gave me my confidence back – and it’s also getting me name recognition,’ she said.

“I was depressed because of my love for fashion and makeup. But after the burns, everything changed.

“My bottom lip was below my chin. My mouth was constantly open – you could see all of my teeth. My eyes were puffy and my skin was different.

It wasn’t going fix it. Why would you bother putting on makeup if it won’t fix anything?

“As my face healed, I was still afraid of going out. I didn’t want to be seen.

Miriam said to Miriam, “This is all in my head now. You don’t look the same as you used to.

“It was a simple statement, but it hadn’t occurred to me. Miriam encouraged me to do that, and that’s when I really started to pick up the brushes.

“I believe that once you’ve experienced trauma, the first thing that you should do is to be grateful that you’re still here.