30 operations! Danette fights her way back to life after fire
Windsor (USA) - Danette Burzlaff-Haag from the US state of Colorado is a strong woman! The 53-year-old had to undergo several operations following a serious stroke of fate. Today she encourages other people.

During a party at home, a faulty valve in the heating system caused a gas leak. When Haag's mother turned on the hot water, the fumes ignited and the house went up in flames.
A huge fireball spread through the building. Danette suffered third-degree burns to almost 70 percent of her body. She was only ten years old at the time!
Her father also suffered life-threatening injuries at the time, but miraculously everyone survived.
The schoolgirl was put on a ventilator at the time, as she told theDaily Star. "I was in the burns center for months and was in and out of the hospital for reconstructive surgery until I was 20," she says.
"I had more operations than I can count (about 30), most of which were skin grafts, which caused more wounds and increased my scars forever."
Her life was marked by the scars. She had to wear pressure garments, splints and face masks throughout her school years. Looking back, she describes this phase as "emotionally unbearable".
Danette Burzlaff-Haag becomes the first beauty queen with scars on her face

Her big dream of becoming a beauty queen was a distant memory for her. "I knew I didn't belong and felt like I would never make it. I was hopeless, helpless and devastated throughout my teenage years and beyond," recalls the mother-of-four.
But Danette didn't give up and worked on her attitude. In 2019, she actually took part in the Mrs. Colorado competition, and three years later she won on her third attempt!
This made her the first woman with severe scars to win the title, and also one of the oldest. "When I got the banner that said 'Mrs. Colorado' and the crown was placed on my head, it was a wonderful moment."
She is immensely proud of her life and her journey. "I had to learn to see myself as much more than my injury in order to achieve all that I have achieved," she says.
The 53-year-old published a book
The pediatric nurse now also works as a mindset life coach and has written a book about her experiences. She says she used to be stared at because of her appearance and received derogatory comments.
"Today, I see my scars as God's masterpiece - created when I went through fire as a child."