Burn Victim on Overcoming Severe Odds

PLANE CRASH

Kechi was sixteen years old when Flight 1145 of Sosoliso Airlines crashed on December 10, 2005 in Nigeria. She was one of two survivors. Kechi was left with third degree burns over 65 percent of her body. She had no memory of the plane crash or the events that proceeded it.

She was in a medically induced coma for five weeks. Her mom would come to see her three times a day. She would sing and read to her from the Bible or some of her favorite authors. Her mom’s voice became Kechi’s anchor to reality. In fact, when she finally came out from the coma she was calm. She knew she had been in a plane crash, that she was hurt badly and in the hospital. These were all things her mom talked to her about while she was in a coma. 

As she healed, her relationship with Jesus began to develop. Instead of relying completely on the prayers of her mom, Kechi began to pray for her own healing and talk to God. She asked Him for peace and He provided it. For example, the first time Kechi saw her face in the mirror after the accident she had an unexpected reaction.

Instead of being overwhelmed at the scars she focused on the familiar features of her face. During this time, she decided that her scars did not define her. God gave her the ability to see the part of her that went beyond her physical appearance – the part that mattered the most. He showed her how she looks through His eyes and revealed to her that she was who she’d always been.

MUSIC THERAPY

In boarding school Kechi dreamed of one day being a speaker and a singer. Although she never joined the choir she would sing for her friends. During her painful journey in the hospital Kechi discovered that her voice had gotten stronger, better. “I loved singing before the accident, but my voice changed after,” shares Kechi. Singing gave her joy and helped her cope as she dealt with the many surgeries she faced.

After leaving the hospital she went to Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Galveston Texas for her reconstructive surgeries. Music became an important part of her healing. Her dad even bought her a karaoke machine which became her favorite distraction. She would sing with it for hours each day. After hearing her sing, a nurse also suggested she participate in the music therapy program at the hospital. This was the first time Kechi sang in front of a stranger (the music teacher therapist).
    
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT

After leaving the hospital and pursuing her education, Kechi’s friend Womiye encouraged her to sign up for America’s Got Talent (AGT). She even completed the initial application for Kechi. Two months passed before she received a phone call from an AGT talent scout.  She was given the opportunity to come to the show to do an audition taping in California.

The next day she went before the judges – Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell. When it came time to sing she was nervous and overwhelmed. Simon stopped the music, told her to take a few deep breaths and try again. She prayed, “God help me to do my best.” This time the judges all gave her a “yes” and the audience was cheering for her. Every time she got past another stage of live shows she was thankful to God for bringing her that far. Her appearance on the show was the first time she had shared her story publicly.

Kechi’s appearance received mixed reviews from its TV audience. Most comments were positive, but some were negative. Insults about her face or her scars had zero effect on Kechi’s self-esteem. “Anyone who knew me knew this. You simply cannot hurt me by insulting that which I have fully embraced about myself,” shares Kechi. She went on to become a top ten finalist. 

One year after AGT Season 12, Kechi was invited back on the show to participate in the pioneer season of America’s Got Talent. The show’s most memorable acts and past champions came together to compete one more time. It was on this show that Kechi was awarded Simon Cowell’s golden buzzer. Through her time on AGT, God put Kechi on a path that she never even imagined. He allowed her to inspire people through her voice and her burn survivor story. 

HEALTH UPDATE

“I believe that the perseverance God gave me and the amazing support system He afforded me allowed me to defy the circumstances that the plane crash forced me into,” recalls Kechi. She has successfully undergone about 100 surgeries despite surviving third degree burns. After three eyelid surgeries, Kechi’s eyes still do not fully close and she has extreme sensitivity to light.

Daily she manages the pain for her contracted skin and the ongoing itching. Yet despite all she has been through Kechi says she will never regret the opportunities she has experienced since the accident. She has used the incredible platform that AGT gave her to impact the world. She is a performing artist, a recording artist, a songwriter, a bullying prevention advocate, a United Nations Ambassador and author.

“People tell me that they’d never have been able to handle the burden of my circumstances the way that I did, and maybe that’s true. But that does not mean I am stronger or more enduring than any other human being,” reveals Kechi. “This was simply my own specific burden to bear, and I believe that when God made us, He equipped each of us with our own unique brand of strength that allows us to handle the individual burdens life will unfailingly throw at us.”