On November 18, 1978, in Flint, Michigan, 14-month-old Keith Edmonds’ life changed forever. His mother’s boyfriend, enraged by the toddler’s cries, pressed Keith’s face against an electric heater, leaving third-degree burns over half his face. Doctors didn’t expect him to survive the night — but miraculously, he did.

Keith spent a month in the hospital, followed by years of grueling surgeries at the Shriners Burn Institute in Cincinnati to rebuild a “normal” appearance. Despite surviving, his trauma didn’t end there. He entered foster care while his mother was cleared of wrongdoing, and the abuser was sentenced to just 10 years in prison, a shockingly light punishment.

Bullied and lonely, Keith turned to alcohol at age 13, masking his pain with substance abuse for over two decades. His twenties were filled with depression, addiction, and brushes with the law.

It wasn’t until his 35th birthday in 2012 that Keith had a life-altering moment of clarity during a drinking binge. He decided to change his life, becoming sober and determined to build a better future.