Burn victims Adrianna Laing and Alecia King meet for the first time

It was a touching moment to see burn victims 15-year-old Adrianna Laing and 19-year-old Alecia King were able to share a warm embrace and words of encouragement when they finally met for the first time on their return from the United States for treatment.

Laing travelled to Shriners Children's Hospital in Boston for corrective surgery, while King received treatment at the hospital's Texas location.

They arrived at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James.

So far, Laing, who arrived with her father, has undergone 28 surgeries, while King, who travelled with her mother, has undergone 30 surgeries.

This marks Laing's fourth trip to the US for corrective surgery, while King has travelled twice.

"At Sanmerna, we are happy to stand beside these two young women. They have the spirit of the phoenix. We are just happy to show Jamaica that through determination and love, their stories are not just about tragedy but about hope, miracles, and resilience," said Paige Dixon, project manager at the Sanmerna Foundation.

Adrianna's ordeal began when her family's home in Springfield, Westmoreland, was destroyed by fire, claiming the lives of her seven-year-old twin siblings, Jayden and Jorden Laing, on September 4, 2022.

King, who was 17 at the time, was doused with gasoline and set on fire while sleeping at a relative's house in Redwood, St Catherine, in August 2023.

Her ex-boyfriend, Antwone Grey, has been charged with the crime.

Laing and King are set to continue their treatment.

- Ashley Anguin

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