Waswanipi, Que., fire victim home after nearly 2 years of medical treatment

On July 1, the community of Waswanipi in the James Bay region of Quebec had more than Canada Day to celebrate, holding a surprise "welcome home" for a neighbour who almost lost her life in a house fire two years ago.  

"I was surprised and I had happy tears," said Annie Happyjack about the special welcome. 

Happyjack was badly burned in a house fire on Sept. 4, 2013. She says she can't remember much of how the fire started.  

"All I can remember is when I got up. I smelled something, I got up suddenly and that was the last I remember," Happyjack said.

She was pulled from the blaze by local firefighter Lee-Roy Blacksmith. Happyjack ended up with severe burns from her chest to her toes and was put into a medically-induced coma to "help me not feel the pain." 

"It wasn't until two months [later] when I knew what happened," she said.

The months between that day and her homecoming last Wednesday were very difficult and painful, Happyjack says.

"I was very worried and discouraged at first," said Happyjack. "I used to wonder when I'd go home and if ever I'd go home."

She lost two fingers and part of her thumb and also cannot bend several of her fingers. She was in a wheelchair for six months and had to learn to walk all over again. 

"I was frustrated to even go out because of my appearance," she said. "I did not want to go out at all. I was very scared because people stared at me."

Last Wednesday, when a bus brought her back home, several community members including some of the local firefighters were waiting outside to welcome her home, with sirens flashing.

Happyjack says she looks forward to spending time with her grandchildren. She will continue to go for follow-up treatments in Montreal once a month.