Burn Survivor Got An Uplifting Tattoo After Going Through 18 Years Of Bullying

There’s nothing quite as inspiring as the women who can take the obstacles they face and turn them around and make them work for them.

How they find their strength matters less than the fact that they did. When some people face true hardship, they struggle and sometimes freeze up, unable to progress any further. But these women take the challenge as nothing more than a mere speed bump on their road to success.

Harley Dabbs is one woman who embodies this mindset perfectly. Even though she is only 21-years-old, she has been fighting back against cruel bullying for 18 years.

You see, tragedy struck when Harley’s home caught fire and burned down when she was just 3-years-old! Harley was caught in the fire and suffered severe burns across her body. Doctors originally believed she only had a 2 percent chance of living, but Harley was a strong woman. She was going to beat those odds! Now Harley has to face another challenge, a social stigma against those who don’t fit the mold of being perfect.

Harley Dabbs is truly an inspiration for remaining strong throughout all of this hardship when those around her never bothered to learn her story. But now Dabbs has an inspiring response for others like her younger self, who are bullied constantly.

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Born a happy and beautiful girl, Harley Dabbs was being raised in Eden, North Carolina. But when everything seemed to be going swimmingly, the Dabbs home caught fire when was just 2-years-old, almost three.

The Dabbs’ home caught fire due to some bad wiring.

My mom was trying to catch up on some laundry and I guess the wires got so hot and they ended up catching on fire

Her parents were outside at the time and although they saved her sister, Sierra Lane Dabbs from inside, Harley was trapped inside the house. Eventually her father rushed in to save her.

Unfortunately, 3-year-old Harley suffered burns across 80% of her body. Doctors gave a grim outlook on her survival. Just a 2% chance of surviving these burns. But Harley beat those odds and not only survived, but found a way to thrive with them.

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Her success wasn’t without a lot of hard work and hospital visits.point 208 |

For nearly two decades Harley had to go to Shriner’s Hospital for Children all the way in Cincinnati, Ohio so she could get the skin grafts and other surgeries she needed.point 147 | Harley knows though that it was divine intervention that allowed her to survive against all odds.point 229 |

Harley told the Daily Mail.point 23 | .point 24 | 1

God allowed me to live

And through Shriner’s Hospital, Harley was able to meet and befriend other burn survivors like herself, that gave her the strength to make it through life.

Shriners is my second home. I felt like I was another species and it made me feel okay being there because there were poeple who looked like I did — I actually felt like I belonged.

However Harley wasn’t spared any amount of bullying by her cruel tormentors during her school years. It got so bad that Harley would get depressed and at her worst points, even suicidal.

I wouldn’t go anywhere. I wouldn’t leave my house. If I did go somewhere, I would fully cover myself no matter how hot it was outside, I’d wear coats and long pants.

Harley knew that she could no longer go on like this.point 82 | Something had to give.point 101 | So when she decided she was finally going to make a big change, she was going to get a tattoo that would signify it.point 194 | Her tattoo depicts a phoenix rising from flames.point 235 |

Etched next to it are the words “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”.point 70 | A quote from the Bible that is very fitting.point 106 | point 106 | 1

Now I’m a warrior, I’m tough, I am who I am because I fought to be this person, I went through hell just to come out on top and I will every time.

Harley wanted her message to help not only herself, but also to help others who are facing extreme bullying just like herself.point 252 |

She was going to be the inspiration she needed when she was younger.point 56 | So she shared her story on her Facebook where it quickly went viral.point 112 | The post has since received over 8,400 likes and over 1,400 shares!point 168 | 1

I hope my story will help others who battle with their scars or birth. No matter what, they can get through their tough times and will be okay.

Harley is strong, but she says she couldn’t have done it alone. Thanks to her loving boyfriend who gave her the support she needed during the darkest times.

He makes me feel beautiful on the days I don’t think I am. And when I can’t be strong, he stays strong for the both of us. He’s definitely held me up — especially on my darkest days.

This isn’t the end of Harley’s tale, however. She has more plans for the future.

I hope to become a nurse and a motivational speaker. I’m supposed to help others, burned or not, realize they’re beautiful regardless of what society portrays.

Harley believes herself to be the phoenix tattooed on her back. Rising from the ashes, far more beautiful than ever before.

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Harley and her powerful story are being shared with the world that many teenagers that struggled like Harley did when she was younger.point 259 |

She hopes her story will help remind them that they’re never alone and that they can be beautiful if they believe in themselves.point 112 | It takes a bit of extra pushing, but confidence is all that one needs to find success.point 182 | 1

Harley’s inspirational story and willingness to promote self love, acceptance and positivity shows that the human spirit can never truly be beaten down. After all of the hardship she suffered she still has the strength to move the world!

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