From the moment Michael Hoskin met a woman named Turia Pitt, he knew he was going to marry her. But in 2011, a horrific tragedy turned their worlds upside down.
Turia was a 23-year-old mining engineer at the time she competed in a marathon in western Australia. During the event, she found herself trapped in a bushfire and suffered horrible burns to 65% of her body.
Turia lost her fingers and thumb on her right hand and spent five months in the hospital, undergoing over 200 surgeries. At first, doctors weren't sure she'd survive.
While many would walk away from their relationship at this point, Michael stayed by Turia's side. He did, however, walk away from his job as a police officer to become her full-time caretaker.
For two whole years, Turia lived inside a mask, hiding her face from the world.
But now, life looks a whole lot different for Turia and Michael — and their new addition to the family, a bouncing baby boy, is making headlines across the world…
Turia Pitt had it all. She was beautiful, active, and bounding with energy.
She modeled in college and, upon graduating, she landed a great job as a mining engineer.
At just 23 years old, Turia had a bright future ahead of her.
Turia also had a wonderful boyfriend named Michael. From the first day they met, Michael knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Turia.
They loved to stay active, ride bikes, go running — and they planned on starting a family one day.
But in 2011, tragedy struck.
Turia was completing an Australian marathon when she was engulfed by bushfire. Completely trapped by the flames, Turia suffered burns to 65% of her body. She lost her fingers and thumb on her right hand and spent five months in the hospital, undergoing over 200 surgeries.
At first, doctors weren't sure she'd survive.
While many partners would walk away from their relationship at this point, Michael stayed by Turia's side.
He left his job as a police officer to become her full-time caretaker, dressing, feeding, and washing her.
For two whole years, Turia lived inside a mask, hiding her face from the world.
Slowly but surely, Turia began to rehabilitate.
“You’re beautiful,’’ Michael would tell her every day. “You’re still my girl.’’
When Turia was in intensive care, Michael bought a diamond ring and proposed.
In Friday Magazine, Turia wrote, "When I look in the mirror, I see the beautiful girl Michael sees because like Michael, I know beauty comes from within and what really matters is who we are, not what we look like."
In 2014, Turia was named the New South Wales, Premier's Award for Woman of the Year.
She also graced the cover of The Australian Women's Weekly, which attracted worldwide media attention.
Gone was the compression mask — she bravely bared her face to the world.
Turia continued participating in marathons and giving motivational speeches across the country.
Still, she longed for a child.
In 2017, Turia revealed she and Michael were finally pregnant.
News of the miracle pregnancy made headlines across Australia!
The expectant mom exercised every day and kept herself active.
"When you know that you're going to experience pain, that can be pretty scary," she said. "But I'm not looking at it that way."
She applied the same technique to every major surgery she had since the 2011 fire to the birthing process.
"I could look at it in the negative way, or the empowering way. If I look at it in the empowering way, I feel better — so that's the way I choose."
Turia and Michael eventually welcomed the birth of their son, Hakavai and have since had another child named Rahiti.
…And what a journey it's been.
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