Beautiful Scars: A Life Redefined by Kilee Brookbank
The updated edition of the 2016 Benjamin Franklin Award winner for Best Inspirational Book!
Kilee Brookbank was a typical sixteen-year-old, but her last ordinary day erupted in an explosion that consumed her house, burning forty-five percent of her body and sending her to the brink of death.
After thirty-eight days of surgeries, skin grafts, physical therapy, and excruciating pain, Kilee had to discover how to live again.
She faced her journey with determination, strength, and a positive attitude that inspired not only her community, but people around the world.
Now a thriving college student, Kilee has become an author, advocate, and philanthropist focused on helping other young burn survivors and their families. Her charity, the Kilee Gives Back Foundation, has raised more than $100,000 for Shriners Hospitals for Children-Cincinnati in just two years, and Kilee has partnered with Shriners Hospitals to promote its national Be Burn Aware campaign.
Told together by Kilee and her mom, Lori, Beautiful Scars: A Life Redefined is a story of recovery, healing, and hope, reminding us all that we’re never powerless, never alone, and that each challenge we face helps make us the people we are meant to be.
Amazon Barnes and Noble Goodreads
Amazon Barnes and Noble Goodreads
Author’s Bios
Kilee Brookbank is a college student, soccer player, shoe fanatic, animal lover – and burn survivor. Severely injured when a gas leak caused her house to explode in November 2014, Kilee was hospitalized for thirty-eight days before returning home to a life of new challenges and a new “normal.” Kilee, who attends Xavier University, is preparing for her future with strength and determination that inspire everyone she meets. She and her family created the Kilee Gives Back Foundation in 2015 to support other families through times of crisis, and Kilee is devoted to paying forward the generosity and kindness she received from her community and from around the world.
Lori Highlander is, first and foremost, proud mom to daughter Kilee and son Cameron. Lori has spent 20 years as an executive in the alcohol and drug addiction field and has witnessed first-hand the impact of information and inspiration on the healing process. In 2014, Lori’s daughter, Kilee Brookbank, was severely burned in a house explosion. Kilee’s resilience and Cameron’s strength compelled Lori to launch KiCam Projects, creating an avenue to bring light to powerful stories of survival with the goal of supporting charitable endeavors and organizations. Additionally, Lori and her family formed the Kilee Gives Back Foundation, a nonprofit inspired by the family’s personal experience. Lori lives in Georgetown, Ohio, with Kilee and Cameron; her husband, Wade; and her stepsons, Collin and Houstin.
My Review
5 stars
Kilee Brookbank was 16 years old when her life drastically changed. A gas leak in her house caused an explosion that burned 45% of her body and almost kill her. What follows is her journal through treatments, surgeries, and simply learning to live again.
I first received Beautiful Scars last year in late 2016. This is a horrible and beautiful story at the same time. Kilee is such a strong young lady. She went through hell and yet did not let it destroy her wonderful personality and attitude. I admit that it is heart breaking to read this story at times. But it goes to show you how having the right attitude can take you so far.
Beautiful Scars: A Life Redefined continues her story. She is not a college student and has started a charity to help others. I loved to see that she helps the Shriners Hospital for Children. I love seeing how she is helping those that helped her.
If you want an amazing story to read, look no further. Kilee and her mother Lori are wonderful women. They both have a great message for everyone. This is one book that has to be an addition to everyone’s shelves.
I received Beautiful Scars: A Life Redefined from KiCam Projects and Beautiful Scars from PR by the Book for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of both of these books.
jbronderbookreviews 
Leave a Reply