At 6, Terry McCarthy was severely burned by lit kerosene, suffering 3rd-degree burns over 70% of his body and enduring nearly 60 surgeries

But the physical scars were not the only wounds Terry carried. At school, other children cruelly mocked his appearance, giving him the nickname “Freddy Krueger” because of the deep burns that covered his face and arms. The relentless teasing and bullying chipped away at his self-esteem, leaving emotional scars that lasted long after the wounds on his skin began to heal. He developed a deep, lifelong fear of fire—a fear rooted in the trauma of that one tragic day.