Ammie Reddick from East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, was only 18 months old when she had the accident that has scarred her for life. While her mother's back was turned for a moment, the inquisitive（好奇的） toddler（初学走路的孩子） reached up to grab the flex（电线） of a hot kettle in the family kitchen and poured boiling water over her tiny infant
Her mother Ruby spun round and, seeing Ammie horribly scalded（烫伤）, called an ambulance which rushed her daughter to a nearby hospital. Twenty per cent of Ammie's body had been burned and all of her burns were third-degree. The doctors could tell immediately that Ammie's best chance of survival was a specialised burns unit some miles away at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. There, using tissue taken from unburned areas of Ammie's body, surgeons performed complex skin grafts（植皮手术） to close her wounds and control her injuries, an operation that took
When she started school at Maxwelton Primary at age four, other pupils made cruel comments or simply wouldn't play with her. "I was the only burned child in the street, the class and the school," she recalls. "Some children refused to become friends because of that."
Today, age 17, Ammie can only ever remember being a burned person with scars; pain is a permanent（持久的） part of her body. She still has to have two further skin grafts. Yet she is a confident, outgoing eenager who offers inspiration and hope to other young burns victims.
Ammie's parents Ruby, a funeral director, and Gibby, a policeman, have been a tremendous support. "They told me if people had a problem with my burns, the problem was theirs not mine," says Ammie. "They taught me to cope with other people's reactions and constantly reminded me I was valued and loved." Ammie's positive philosophy means she is now in demand with burns organisations, helping younger patients build their self-esteem（自尊） to live with permanent scars.
She is a member of the Scottish Burned Children's Club, a charity set up last year. Says Donald Todd, chairman of the club and a senior burns nurse at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children, "Ammie provides so much encouragement for younger ones. She is upbeat（乐观的） and outgoing and a perfect role model for them."
This month, Ammie will be joining the younger children at the Graffham Water Centre in Cambridgeshire for the charity's first summer camp . "I'll show them how to shrug off unkind stares from others," she says. Ammie loves wearing fashionable sleeveless tops], and she plans to show the youngsters at summer camp that they can too. "I do not go to great lengths to hide my burns scars," she says. "I gave up wondering how other people would react years ago."
Donald Todd believes Ammie will be invaluable at the camp: "She is mature beyond her years. Ammie has taken a tragic experience and used it to shape a very strong, helpful personality."
相关单词：inquisitive
inquisitive解释：adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的
inquisitive例句：
Children are usually inquisitive.小孩通常很好问。
A pat answer is not going to satisfy an inquisitive audience.陈腔烂调的答案不能满足好奇的听众。
相关单词：flex
flex解释：n.皮线，花线；vt.弯曲或伸展
flex例句：
We wound off a couple of yards of wire for a new lamp flex.我们解开几码电线作为新的电灯花线。
He gave his biceps a flex to impress the ladies.他收缩他的肱二头肌以吸引那些女士们的目光。
相关单词：ruby
ruby解释：n.红宝石，红宝石色
ruby例句：
She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。
相关单词：spun
spun解释：v.纺，杜撰，急转身
spun例句：
His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
相关单词：grafts
grafts解释：移植( graft的名词复数 )； 行贿； 接穗； 行贿得到的利益
grafts例句：
He's gone to London for skin grafts on his thighs. 他去伦敦做大腿植皮手术了。
Her burns were treated with skin grafts. 她的烧伤是用植皮方法进行治疗的。
相关单词：helping
helping解释：n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的
helping例句：
The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
相关单词：shrug
shrug解释：v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等)
shrug例句：
With a shrug,he went out of the room.他耸一下肩，走出了房间。
I admire the way she is able to shrug off unfair criticism.我很佩服她能对错误的批评意见不予理会。
相关单词：invaluable
invaluable解释：adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的
invaluable例句：
A computer would have been invaluable for this job.一台计算机对这个工作的作用会是无法估计的。
This information was invaluable to him.这个消息对他来说是非常宝贵的。
相关单词：tragic
tragic解释：adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的
tragic例句：
The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。
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