1 year ago
37
A YEAR LATER. BLAST OFF IN MY EYE. LAST YEAR, WE INTRODUCE YOU TO SCARLETT HARKINS. SHE AND HER FAMILY WERE IN A HOMEWOOD PARKING LOT WAITING TO WATCH THE THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN. FIREWORKS SHOW SOME TEENAGERS NEARBY LIT THEIR OWN FIREWORKS AND ONE HIT LITTLE SCARLETT IN THE LEFT EYE. HER MOTHER, ABBY, SAID THIS TO US LAST YEAR. I WISH IT WAS ME. WISH IT WAS ME. I WISH I COULD TAKE ALL OF HER PAIN AWAY. BUT I CAN’T TODAY. ABBY WAS TOO EMOTIONAL TO SPEAK WITH US AGAIN ABOUT THE INCIDENT BECAUSE SHE’S STILL VERY UPSET AND SAD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER LITTLE GIRL. THIS COMMENT BACK THEN STILL HOLDS TODAY. I DON’T AGREE WITH FIREWORKS BEING SHOT IN A PARKING LOT. IT SHOULD HAVE. IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. FIREFIGHTERS KNOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIGHT UP THEIR OWN FIREWORKS TODAY ANYWAY. BUT IF YOU DO MAKE SURE YOU’RE IN AN OPEN SPACE. AND REMEMBER, WHEN YOU’RE DONE, ALWAYS TOSS IT IN A BUCKET OF WATER IN CASE OF A MISHAP. A LOT OF KIDS DON’T REALIZE THAT THAT’S SOMETHING THAT CAN HURT THEM. SO DON’T LET ANY CHILDREN LIGHT FIREWORKS. DON’T LET THEM LIKE SPARKLERS. CAPTAIN MARK SHANNON SAYS LIGHTING YOUR OWN FIREWORKS CAN BE ILLEGAL DEPENDING ON THE CITY. FOR HOMEWOOD, IT IS ILLEGAL TO SET FIREWORKS OFF IN THE CITY OF HOMEWOOD. BUT OF COURSE PEOPLE STILL DO IT A YEAR LATER, SCARLETT WEARS GLASSES AND DOCTORS DON’T BELIEVE HER VISION WILL IMPROVE. SHE’S STILL AFRAID OF THE SOUND AND SIGHT OF FIREWORKS. THAT’S WHY THIS 4TH OF JULY, THE HARKINS FAMILY WILL BE CELEBRATING QUIETLY AT HOME. I THINK WE’RE ALL JUST DONE WITH FIREWORKS IN BIRMINGHAM. MAGDALA LOUISSAINT WVTM 13, MAGDALA. THANK YOU ALL. FIREWORKS CAN BE DANGEROUS. YOU PROBABLY HEARD THAT SPARKLERS BURN THE HOTTEST. WHILE THAT’S TRUE, MOST INJURIES FROM FIREWORKS DON’T INVOLVE THEM FIRECRACKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST INJURIES. 1300 LAST YEAR ALONE. ALL TOLD, MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE WERE TREATED AT EMERGENCY ROOMS. LAST YEAR, 11 PEOPLE ACTUALLY
5-year-old Alabama girl tries to celebrate July Fourth one year after firework injury
America parties while she worries. America celebrates while she’s down in the dumps. America watches fireworks, and she stays clear. Because one year later, Scarlett Harkins is afraid.It was one year ago when Irondale, Alabama’s Scarlett Harkins hopped up and down in a Homewood, Alabama, parking lot. It was July 4, 2022, and Scarlett was moments away from watching the fireworks. It was nearing 9 p.m. when Birmingham’s Thunder On The Mountain fireworks show was set to begin.It happened in an instant. As Scarlett readied to watch the show, a few teenagers lit off some fireworks of their own. A large firework hit Scarlett in the left eye. Mom Abbie rushed Scarlett to Children’s Of Alabama.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WVTM 13 One year ago, Scarlett Harkins lost most of her sight in her left eye. The bad news is that, according to doctors, the eyesight will never improve.“She wears glasses more for confidence than for anything,” Abbie told me. “She has had a difficult time with her balance and her coordination. It’s been exactly one year, but Scarlett won’t be watching fireworks tonight,” Abbie told me. “Scarlett is still afraid of both the sights and the sounds of fireworks. I’ll be trying to keep her busy today playing in the yard, but I’m worried about her. She hasn’t been the same since the injury.”A few months ago, Scarlett graduated from pre-K, and while Scarlett is making some strides, Abbie Harkins has felt all the emotions as she has raised her daughter over the last 12 months: anger, sadness, worry, empathy. She wishes that Scarlett could see clearly, as her daughter holds big dreams.“Scarlett wants to be a doctor,” said Abbie, “but I don’t know if her eyesight will hold her back.”Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeToday, one year later, Scarlett Harkins is down in the dumps, sad that while America celebrates, she will miss the party."I'll be with her all day," said Abbie. "Trying to make today Scarlett's best Fourth of July ever."
America parties while she worries. America celebrates while she’s down in the dumps. America watches fireworks, and she stays clear. Because one year later, Scarlett Harkins is afraid.
It was one year ago when Irondale, Alabama’s Scarlett Harkins hopped up and down in a Homewood, Alabama, parking lot. It was July 4, 2022, and Scarlett was moments away from watching the fireworks. It was nearing 9 p.m. when Birmingham’s Thunder On The Mountain fireworks show was set to begin.
It happened in an instant. As Scarlett readied to watch the show, a few teenagers lit off some fireworks of their own. A large firework hit Scarlett in the left eye. Mom Abbie rushed Scarlett to Children’s Of Alabama.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WVTM 13
One year ago, Scarlett Harkins lost most of her sight in her left eye. The bad news is that, according to doctors, the eyesight will never improve.
“She wears glasses more for confidence than for anything,” Abbie told me.
“She has had a difficult time with her balance and her coordination. It’s been exactly one year, but Scarlett won’t be watching fireworks tonight,” Abbie told me. “Scarlett is still afraid of both the sights and the sounds of fireworks. I’ll be trying to keep her busy today playing in the yard, but I’m worried about her. She hasn’t been the same since the injury.”
A few months ago, Scarlett graduated from pre-K, and while Scarlett is making some strides, Abbie Harkins has felt all the emotions as she has raised her daughter over the last 12 months: anger, sadness, worry, empathy. She wishes that Scarlett could see clearly, as her daughter holds big dreams.
“Scarlett wants to be a doctor,” said Abbie, “but I don’t know if her eyesight will hold her back.”
Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Today, one year later, Scarlett Harkins is down in the dumps, sad that while America celebrates, she will miss the party.
"I'll be with her all day," said Abbie. "Trying to make today Scarlett's best Fourth of July ever."
English (US)