Unable to see through the thick smoke, Stephanie Bell, 40, coughed uncontrollably.
“Boys! Where are you?” she yelled, helplessly. She was desperately searching for her two sons, Lukas, 10, and Liam, eight.
Mum, Stephanie, has bravely shared her story
Stephanie was in a coma for eight days
As roaring flames blocked her path to the bedroom, her motherly instinct kicked in and she ran through them.
Feeling her skin burn and melt, she kept crying out as she heard her sons yell for their mummy.
This was August 2024 and the mother-of-two, from North Carolina, USA, risked her life to pull her two sons from a
Although it left her scarred for life, she was grateful that her boys survived.
Inferno as they slept
The family had been cosied up in bed watching films earlier that night at their home in the countryside.
Only hours later as they slept, their overheated and burst into flames.
Shockingly, their Goldendoodle, Rocky, woke Stephanie as the fire spread rapidly through the home.
As my eyes adjusted, I realised the room was filled with smoke.
Stephanie Bell 40
Stephanie, a supermarket delivery driver, says: “My burns are a beautiful reminder of how I love my sons literally to death!
“I walked through those flames for them, and I would do it again. Our little pooch was our hero too. We rescued him but it turns out he also returned the favour.”
In February 2024, Stephanie was a single mum and had been raising her boys by herself for the past six years.
That month, Stephanie and her sons, Lukas, then aged 9, and Liam, then aged 8, rescued a two-year-old Merle Goldendoodle, named Rocky.
Stephanie says: “We lived in a woodland. And Rocky instantly became part of the family. Even though he was blind, he adapted to our house so quickly. We let him stop and sniff things as he went. He got used to the new layout using his tail and other senses to guide him. He was such a clever dog.”
Hero dog
Six months later, in August 2024, Stephanie threw some laundry in her tumble dryer, before climbing into bed with her boys to watch a film.
Stephanie says: “Before the film finished, I felt my eyes get heavy and I drifted off to sleep with the boys by my side.
“But hours later, I was woken by something nudging me. I opened my eyes and found Rocky beside me.
“His nudging became so insistent he pushed me off the bed and I landed on the carpet.
“Then, as my eyes adjusted, I realised the room was filled with smoke.
Lukas, Liam and Stephanie all escaped a house fire
The aftermath of the awful blaze
Stephanie shared this picture of brave Liam in hospital
“I realised the house was on fire! I was horrified.”
Unbeknown to Stephanie, the tumble dryer had overheated and set on fire.
Still confused and woozy from her sleep, she got up and followed the house alarm beeping, heading through the utility room and back near the back door. But as she did, she finally snapped awake and heard a cry out from behind her.
I ran through the flames and instantly felt my skin burn and sizzle.
Stephanie Bell
Stephanie says: “I’d been in such a panic, I’d forgotten to get the boys. I dashed through the house to get them. But there were huge, roaring flames blocking my path to the bedroom.
“I had to save my boys. I didn’t let it stop me. So I ran through the flames and instantly felt my skin burn and sizzle. In the haze of smoke, I bumped into Rocky who was bravely helping to lead Liam out of my room.
“Grabbing hold of them both, I hurried them outside and back and away from the house. I then screamed at Liam, telling him to stay there and that I was getting Lukas.”
Searching for her boys
She continued: “I dashed back inside, worried he was still asleep on my bed. But as I got to the bedroom again, it was up in flames. I kept yelling and there was no reply. I couldn’t see anything through the thick smoke.
“It started filing my lungs and I was coughing uncontrollably.
“I collapsed onto the floor. With the little strength I had, I managed to grab onto the washing machine, hoping the noise would wake him.”
As Stephanie was on the verge of blacking out in the fire, her son yelled from outside.
I saw my other baby, Lukas, by the house. I couldn’t believe it.
Stephanie Bell
She heard Liam scream ‘Mummy’ and that Lukas was at the front door of the house.
With all her might, she pulled herself up and out of the back door. Taking Liam’s hand, she hurried round to the front. Stephanie says: “I saw my other baby, Lukas, by the house. I couldn’t believe it.
“I cried out and held him tight. He was terrified, crying for me.
“Somehow he’d gotten himself out. But he was stood by two jugs of kerosene on the porch. I quickly grabbed him and took him away as far as I could. I felt whole again knowing my boys were alive.”
Running for safety
The family ran to a neighbour’s house for help, pounding on their front door. They called emergency services.
It was then when Stephanie saw her skin melting off, and her sons with burns. She went into shock seeing their house burn down too.
Two helicopters air-lifted the family to hospital. The loving mum had suffered second and third degree burns to her hands, arms and face as well as severe
She was in a coma for eight days. Whilst little Liam suffered second degree burns on his arm, back and leg. He was also in a coma, for 3 days. Thankfully, Lukas came out unscathed. Stephanie says: “When I woke from the coma, I panicked, asking where my children were.
“My mum was there, reassuring me they were okay. But that Liam had also been in a coma.
“Soon they wheeled Liam into my room and we hugged, bursting into tears. I told him I was so proud of him for being such a big boy.
“We both needed donor skin to help our own skin grow back, but thankfully, our operations were successful. Liam was discharged first, and 12 days on from the fire, I was eventually discharged where I could finally see Lukas for the first time.
“My friend then brought Rocky over and we made the biggest fuss of him. He was our little hero.”
At first, Stephanie and Liam had to travel four hours to receive aftercare at a specialist hospital, breaking her heart to see him crying in pain during bandage changes.
Incredibly their community rallied together to raise more than £100,000 for the family to get a new home.
Stephanie says: “We had escaped with our lives and now, thanks to our people’s kindness and generosity, we had the chance of a fresh start. We’ve just got the keys to our new home after living with my aunt for a while, and we can’t wait to move in and rebuild our lives.
“Liam’s burns have healed well and while my hands and arms are scarred for life.
“I’ve also been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and tremendous stress. But I’m trying to stay positive, and look forward to our new future.”
Stephanie with her boys now
They have Rocky the dog to be thankful for – he woke her up
Stephanie was in hospital after the fire 
