LAPLACE – Thirteen-year-old Cristen Jenkins of LaPlace suffered second-degree burns when she stopped a sparkler from burning a toddler during a Fourth of July celebration at a traditional family gathering.
Jenkins, along with her family, was outside shooting fireworks when she saw a toddler about to get burned by a sparkler. She immediately knocked the baby out the way. When she turned around, the sparkler had set a box of fireworks on fire, and they exploded, causing Jenkins second-degree burns on her arms and face.  
Jenkins was rushed to Baton Rouge General Hospital, where she was admitted to the burn unit. She was in the hospital for nearly two weeks, finally being released July 14. Jenkins has nerve damage in her left hand, and she has no skin on her left arm. Because of the injuries, Jenkins will be home schooled.  
She continues to receive outpatient care at the Occupational and Wound Care facility at Baton Rouge General two to three times per week. Jenkins has a long road to recovery and will need surgery to help with the healing of her injuries.
“Cristen is up and down emotionally, and she is stressed out,” said her mother, Crystal Williams-Jenkins. “However, she is strong. We are very proud of our princess, and we love her with everything in us. God will take care of us.”
One of her cousins told her that the cousin bet that Jenkins will stop playing with fireworks, but Jenkins replied that she will not stop. She said she has learned not to get to close to them, but she cannot stop living and having fun.
A Fund has been set up for Jenkins to help with medical bills. Donations can be made to the Cristen J. Jenkins Burn Recovery Fund at the Louisiana Federal Credit Union in LaPlace and Gramercy and at Walmart in LaPlace on Aug. 3
For more information, contact Sgt. Leonard Sanders of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office at 504-644-1621.