A mother's story of love and courage: She lost her home in a horrific fire, but she saved her son and unborn baby

22-year-old Crystal couldn't prevent her trailer home from burning down but saved what was most important: herself -- nearly seven months pregnant -- and her 3-year-old son, J.J.

Crystal was taking a nap on the living room couch, and when she woke up, she saw the entire ceiling burned orange.

She jumped up and ran for the bedroom. Her son was on the bed, engulfed in flames. He sat up when he saw her, and cried, "Mommy, help me!" Crystal reached into the inferno and pulled him close to her body. He was so hot a pillow had melted to his legs.

Crystal headed back to the living room, toward the front door. Behind her, the bedroom collapsed, roof first, and she tripped on something, falling to the floor. Ceiling insulation landed on the exposed skin of her back. She was wearing only a sports bra with her pajama pants.

Days seemed to pass as she navigated the 15-foot walk to the door. Despite her frantic yanks, she couldn't get the door open. Crystal couldn't grip the handle. She could see skin melting, peeling off her arms. But tenacity and terror paid off. The front door finally popped open, and she began struggling with the storm door. She threw her weight against the door and it finally gave.

Once outside, Crystal stuck J.J. in a snowbank. He was smoking. She plunged her head into the snow to extinguish the insulation smoldering in her hair.

Then she made her way to a neighbor's house across the yard, almost dragging the toddler because her arms were too burned to pick him up. No one was home.

She sat on the step and yelled for help. Soon, another neighbor came to her aid. He took Crystal and J.J. to his house and called emergency services.

Perhaps five minutes had passed since a dozing Crystal had opened her eyes and seen orange. Her courage got her and her children out of the trailer alive. But until her husband arrived, she didn't feel safe.

Read the full story after the jump.

Link & Image: Post-Gazette
Tags: Mother | Saves | Children | Fire