Lulu Gilreath was enjoying a nice summer day at an amusement park in Nebraska. She got on one of the rides, but her hair was caught in its spinning mechanism.
The 11-year-old's entire head of hair was ripped from her skull. The girl endured five minutes of the brutality as her mother tirelessly fought to stop the ride and save her daughter. Lulu is somewhat unrecognizable now, three months after the incident.
Yet, her courageous spirit is perfectly intact.
“Lulu is stronger than me,” her mother, Virginia Cooksey said.
Gilreath has required skin grafts on her face which changed her appearance permanently. While the little girl is still dealing with the trauma, she has never once felt sorry for herself. That maybe in part to the hundreds of people who rallied around her, raising $60,000 for her family.
There is one thing she is anxious about: what the kids will say this school year.
"I’m nervous that nobody will like how I look," the sixth grader said.
Fortunately, Inside Edition decided to help her and her mom go wig shopping. The shop owner helped Gilreath try on tons of different wigs until she found one that looked just like her old red hair. Judging from Gilreath's reaction, the wig made her feel spectacular.
“I feel how I was, and I like it!” she said.
According to ABC, here are a few safety tips for boarding carnival rides:
- Go on a weekday, when crowds will be sparse and things will be less chaotic.
- Don’t wear clothing that drags or dangles (this includes hairstyles); wear sturdy shoes and leave flip-flops at home.
- Seat belts should be worn snug but not tight.
- Keep arms, legs, and head contained in your seat.
- Be sure the ride has completely ended before getting out of your seat.
Please SHARE if you believe we could all learn a thing or two from Gilreath’s positive attitude!
