Today we’d like to introduce you to Kechi Okwuchi.
Hi Kechi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The day of the crash was a day like any other for me. It was Saturday, December 10, 2005, and I was scheduled to fly home for the Christmas holidays with 60 other students from my boarding high school in Abuja, Nigeria. I was a 16-year-old senior. When we got to the airport, we boarded the plane after a few hours’ delay along with several other passengers- 109 in total, including the flight crew. The plane was a regular commercial Boeing aircraft. I was in an aisle seat near the front of the plane, and one of my closest friends was in the aisle seat next to mine.
This flight typically takes about 1 hour or so. About 15 mins to landing, the pilot made the announcement over the intercom that we would start our descent soon. That was when the turbulence started. At first, it was nothing unexpected, but then it started to get very intense, and it soon became apparent that something was terribly wrong. Tension permeated the air in the cabin, but it wasn’t until a woman screamed from the back of the plane that true chaos ensued. Suddenly, everyone was screaming, wailing God’s name, shouting prayers at the top of their lungs. I remember just sitting in silent disbelief, unable to wrap my head around the fact that this was reality. I felt like I was floating above all the chaos, watching myself stare into space in confusion. It felt like a movie.
My last memory is holding unto my friend’s hand from across the aisle, then complete darkness. After a period of time passed, I was opening my eyes 5 weeks later in a hospital in South Africa, Johannesburg, 5 week later.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hardly. Recovery was a long, arduous journey, one that continues even to this day. Burn injuries are some of the most difficult injuries to recover from, and the worse the burn, the harder and longer your recovery will be. Long-term recovery, especially one that damages your physical appearance drastically, will always require both physical and psychological healing. The support system I had around me was incredible and exactly the kind I needed emotionally and psychologically. They reinforced my belief that my physical appearance was secondary to my actual health and healing, and because of them, I did not have to deal with too much emotional trauma for very long.
My physical trauma, on the other hand, more than made up for that in spades.
I sustained 3rd degree burns over 65% of my body and was given a 30% chance of survival when I first arrived at Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, in 2005. I was in the burn ICU for 4 months and the burn ward for 3. My skin burned down to my bone in some areas. The pain from these injuries is a given, but the worst part for me was the intense itching that is an inevitable result of damaged skin trying to mend itself. The intensity of the itching from burns varies from patient to patient, and I, unfortunately, ended up on the extreme end of that spectrum. The itching was worse than the pain for me because there was no relief from it, and at its worst, I simply could not envision a time in the future where I would ever be free of it. It felt like I would be scratching myself bloody for the rest of my life, despite my mom always trying to convince me otherwise.
16 years later, and it turns out mom was right. Here I am, typing on a computer with nothing but the occasional itch to deal with, whose intensity is much too low to interrupt my daily life. It’s hard to believe. I don’t think I will ever be 100% rid of it, but I am beyond thankful to be in a place where it can no longer disrupt my life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Thanks to my appearances on America’s Got Talent in 2017 and 2019, I was able to share my survivor story and my voice with the world on a scale I would never have managed by myself. I have created a brand across most social media platforms centered around inspiration, authenticity, and burn survivor advocacy. I have been privileged to work on original music with many talented songwriters and producers, and I released my first album titled ‘KECHI,’ available on all digital music platforms. For the past 6 years, I have traveled all over the country and beyond to perform on various stages, speak at various events, and advocate for fellow burn and trauma survivors in whatever way I can.
Last year, I became a published author with Baker Books and released my memoir titled “More Than My Scars,” available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and any other bookselling platform. I haven’t been able to promote my book as well as I’d want to yet. But I am working on it.
Most recently, I graduated with my MBA late last year and began working remotely as a digital marketing consultant for a firm based in the Woodlands, TX.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
You can support me on all social media platforms.
Pricing:
- Keynote Speaker – $3500+
- Singer/Performer – $3500+
- Social media brand promotions – $300+
Contact Info:
- Website: kechiofficial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kechiofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialKechi/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kechiokwuchiofficial/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kechi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KechiOfficial
- Other: https://linktr.ee/officialkechi
Image Credits
@Tiffanycouture.co
@Akellochic
