It was a night of horror for Julie Saint-Fleur on July 21, 2016.
The 20-year-old was running for her life as shots rang out at the now-defunct BAM nightclub when the unthinkable happened. Boiling cooking oil splashed on Saint-Fleur as she dodged flying bullets.
A dispute between two people at the nightclub set off the chaotic scene. It was one of many shootings that occurred at the nightclub located on Broward Boulevard near Fort Lauderdale. The club had been the scene of several deadly shootings before that summer night that forever changed Saint-Fleur’s life.
“My beautiful skin is ruined,” Saint-Fleur, now 23 years old, says she remembered thinking when she realized what happened to her. “I thought for sure it was over for me.”
Saint-Fleur was working her way through college at a food concession at BAM nightclub when the gun violence erupted. During the chaos, one of the fryers flipped over and she was scalded with the boiling oil.
Thirty percent of Saint-Fleur’s body had second-to-third-degree burns. Most of her legs and back were severely injured.
“I was in the hospital for a while. I had to undergo four surgeries,” the 23-year-old recalled. “When I was released from the hospital, I had to use a walker.”
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The aspiring elementary school teacher experienced excruciating pain. Her confidence was crushed.
“I was depressed and didn’t want to leave the house,” Saint-Fleur said.
She felt like the life around her was unraveling further.
“I lost friends and family because of my injuries,” Saint-Fleur said.
She sat in anguish for months.
“I even put my dreams of being a school teacher on the side because I couldn’t imagine standing in front of a classroom full of children staring at my scars,” she said.
As time went by, Saint-Fleur began to embrace her new life and her new purpose.
“You have to become a whole new person this fire has created,” the 23-year-old said.
She took to social media to connect with other burn victims. She shared her journey, no longer hiding behind her scars. That’s when she realized her strength.
“I didn’t know how resilient I was until this whole ordeal came about,” Saint-Fleur said.
What brings her more joy these days is the healing of her scars. She’s not afraid to show off her legs anymore thanks to unconventional treatment she’s received at Siperstein Dermatology Group in Boynton Beach.
Saint-Fleur said her skin is improving because of the Cutera Secrets sessions she’s had.
Dr. Robyn Siperstein had been using the micro-needling device on other clients to reduce the signs of aging skin. But she then realized the device could treat burn scars.
“Sometimes we use it in acne scars so that’s what made me think perhaps in this case, it would really help her,” said Dr. Siperstein. “We’re essentially able to remodel the skin and slowly diminish the appearance of scars.”
For Saint-Fleur, the Cutera Secrets treatment gives her hope.
“I feel like the world is mine and I can do almost anything,” she said.
Saint-Fleur and Dr. Siperstein have built a friendship since the treatments started.
“It has made a real difference in our lives knowing that we’re able to change her life,” said Dr. Siperstein.
The doctor recently surprised Julie with one year of free Cutera Secrets treatments.
Saint-Fleur now wants to use her story to help other burn survivors like her to heal.
“To see that I went through something so traumatic and I’m still able to want to give back and smile and live a full life – it’s amazing.”
The 23-year-old recently published a children’s book about a young burn victim. The book, “Lillian is Alright!” is available for sale on Amazon. She says proceeds from the sale of her book will go to South Florida burn survivors.
