Megan Kimbrough's family starts selling bracelets and shirts to pay for medical bills

Banners telling of Megan's tragedy are draped over cars in her hometown of Noblesville, Indiana.
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Posted: 08/30/2012

By: Jacqueline Ingles

POLK COUNTY, Fla - Family of Megan Kimbrough are now selling t-shirts and bracelets to help raise money to pay the 26-year-old's mounting medical bills.

Kimbrough was burned alive on August 3. She has remained in the burn unit at Tampa General since. With burns over 80 percent of her body, Megan has already undergone seven surgeries to not only clean her wounds but to graft donor skin over them.

Police say Kimbrough's husband Joshua doused her in gasoline and then lit her on fire as she sat in a recliner inside their Lakeland home.

Megan ran out of the home and neighbors threw blankets on her to put out the flames.

At first, doctors did not think Megan would survive. Every day is a touch and go.

"It seems that Megan decided to make sure her medical staff was paying close attention to her this morning," wrote Teddy Lawhorn, Megan's father. "They were changing her bandages when her blood pressure dropped dangerously low, to 60/30. That’s not a typo. It was 60/30."

Megan is now receiving emergency Medicaid. While that will cover most of her treatments and surgeries, it will not cover future needs.

In the days following the tragedy, Megan's family created the Facebook page, 'Pray for Megan .' More than 35,000 people have liked her page and well wishes are pouring in from around the world.

"Megan, you will be in my prayers and God bless you," wrote Janice Azam on Thursday morning.

Knowing Megan faces financial struggles, her family us selling "Pray for Megan" t-shirts and bracelets. The t-shirts cost $20. "Pray for Megan" bracelets cost $1 and also include the message "stop domestic violence."

To order a shirt or bracelet, an email needs to be sent to megkimbrough@ymail.com. Once there, more instructions will be given for payment, etc.

BURN SURVIVOR REACHES OUT TO KIMBROUGH

Alongside Megan on her lengthy road to recovery is burn survivor Audrey Mabrey.

Mabrey was in the process of divorcing her husband, Christopher Hanney, in November of 2009 when he attacked her in their Apollo Beach house. Hanney grabbed Mabrey, took her to the garage, beat her with a hammer, doused her with gasoline and then tossed a lit candle at her and set her on fire.

Hanney was found guilty of attempted murder, aggravated battery and arson.

Mabrey went to the hospital to meet with Megan's parents and has committed to being Megan's advocate.

"This is a lifelong commitment for me," Audrey told ABC Action News.

Mabrey also started an online push to get monetary donations to help Megan pay her mounting medical bills. Visit http://www.gofundme.com/10qqds to find out more. Mabrey's goal is to raise $25,000.

JOSHUA KIMBROUGH BEHIND BARS

Joshua appeared in court August 5 and appeared disinterested in the proceedings. Police said after Joshua lit his wife on fire, he went on a crime spree where he stole a car at gunpoint, burglarized a house and then used a stolen credit card at a gas station.

Joshua's charges range from attempted first-degree murder to arson and aggravated assault with a firearm.

When informed by prosecutors his wife would not likely live, Joshua shrugged his shoulders and told the judge, "I am done with his [expletive] show."

Joshua's parents, Rita and David Sanders, said their son is abusing heroine and believe he lit Megan on fire because he was high.

David Sanders told ABC Action News his step-son has admitted to taking methamphetamine, Xanax and Klonopin the night this occurred.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

As a growing number of people learn about Megan's tragic story, more and more people are choosing to do more than reach out on Facebook.

"There has been a huge number of requests to send cards, letters, etc., to Megan," wrote a family member on Facebook.

Megan, who remains under protective care, is not allowed any visitors outside of her parents and Mabrey.

With cards showing up, Megan's dad set a P.O. Box up in her hometown of Noblesville, Indiana, where they can be sent.

Prayers for Megan
P.O. Box 113
Noblesville IN 46061

RNC CONFLICTS WITH VISITATION

With the Republican National Convention in town, it has made it nearly impossible for Megan's father to travel to Tampa.

Megan's father, Teddy, tried to see his daughter this week but says he could not find affordable airfare or a place to stay. However, Megan's mother, Theresa, who lives in the Seattle area, did travel to the area with help from Mabrey and other community members. She plans to stay in Tampa by her daughter's side until she is well enough to walk out of the hospital

Megan's father is expected to arrive in Tampa Saturday.