Hoskins faces a long road ahead

A Corbin woman, severely burned in a fire that destroyed the downtown dental office where she worked, said nightmares of the incident come less frequently than they used to, but scars left from her injuries will be constant reminder of how perilously close to death she came.
Forty-three-year-old Ann Hoskins spoke this week about the circumstances surrounding the June 8 blaze at the office of orthodontist Brent Chumbley, and her own personal healing process.
“I have two sons and I thank God every day I get to see them again,” she said. “Just knowing that I was literally on fire and my life could have been gone in a split second is scary. It’s been hard to think about it.”
Hoskins were burned over 20 percent of her body, mostly on her upper legs, thighs and stomach. Many of the burns are of the most serious variety, third-degree, and required intensive skin grafting and an eight-day hospital stay at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.
The over 100 staple doctor’s used to hold the grafts in place on her stomach are gone, but tight discolored skin and a lot of pain remains.
Hoskins said her active lifestyle has made it difficult to take the healing process in stride.
“They tell me they’re not sure how long it will be before I recover,” she said. “I’m going crazy. I worked two jobs and even cleaned the office on weekends. I worked out at the gym three to five times a week and felt better at this age than I did in my 20s. Then, all of the sudden, it’s all gone. That’s been one of the hardest things for me.”
Hoskins worked as an assistant for Chumbley in the office’s lab. Just before the fire, she said she had been sculpting retainers and was waiting for her last one to dry when things went drastically, unexpectedly wrong.
“It was a big fireball that came from under the desk where I was working. There was no warning,” Hoskins said. “I was just sitting there not doing anything. I was actually taking my time because I didn’t have too much to do.”
Fire and insurance officials have been actively investigating the cause of the blaze. Chumbley himself said he is eager to know what caused it.
According to a report issued by Assistant State Fire Marshal Jack Flowers, it appears unlikely that the fire was caused by a gas leak, which some had first speculated.
Flowers noted in his report that Delta Gas Technician Mark Nobell will perform a pressure test on the gas lines to check for leaks, but that he did not expect to find any because gas usage since May 30 had indicated minimal usage.
The report notes that Methyl Methacrylate, the resin which Hoskins poured into the molds, is highly flammable and should be used in a ventilated area.
“The room in which the fire occurred did not appear to have any type of mechanical ventilation,” the report narrative stated. “Due to burn patterns, statements from firefighters and Ms. Hoskins, it is my opinion that the fire started in the lab while Ms. Hoskins was making these appliances.
“Even though this process had been used many times it appears that all the conditions for ignition were within limits and caused the resulting fire. This fire is most likely to be an unfortunate accident.”
The initial blast blew her back three feet. Hoskins said she immediately began removing her fiery clothing and rushed downstairs. Only moments later, a second explosion shot flames out of the laboratory entrance.
“I could see the flames burst out of my lab door. The second explosion would have killed me. If the first explosion had knocked me out, I wouldn’t be here.”
After first returning from the hospital to her 11th Street home, Hoskins said she could do little for herself. Now, mornings are difficult, but the tight, tender skins starts to loosen as the days progress. She said doctors anticipate scaring for a year or so and insist she wears special pressure garments to encourage healing.
“It feels like leather is on you,” she said. “It’s the weirdest feeling … almost like you are in someone elses body.”
Prayers and kind words from the community have been a significant part of the healing process. Cards, phone calls and kind words have flowed from places she never expected. Players on local Little League baseball teams all signed a card and brought it to her home. She worked nights in the concession area at Rotary Park.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by that. I wasn’t expecting it. I’m still getting cards every week from people I wouldn’t even have thought would think of me.”
Hoskins said one of the major impediments to her going back to work very soon is her left hand, burned badly in the blaze. Three fingers were severely scorched and she said some health officials think she may never again be able to clench them into a fist.
On any account, Hoskins said she is unsure when she will be able to return to work due to her injuries.
“I would never want anybody to go through what I did,” she said. “It was the worst pain I ever felt in my life.”