82-Year-Old Woman Suffers Third-Degree Burns After Falling Asleep by Pool

An 82-year-old Arizona woman is fighting for her life after a terrifying afternoon at a community pool turned into a medical nightmare.

Betty-Lou Summer suffered third-degree burns and heat stroke after falling asleep on a metal chair at a pool in San Tan Valley, Arizona, on June 11.

Her daughter, Michelle Gabbert, said the injuries were far worse than anyone could have imagined.

“The whole front of her body, all the way down to basically the muscle and the bone, is burned,” Gabbert told Arizona’s Family. “And it’s significant.”

Summer had gone to the Johnson Ranch community pool that Thursday and was wearing a large hat when she laid down on a metal chair. At some point, she fell asleep for about an hour.

In the brutal Arizona sun, that short amount of time was enough to cause life-threatening injuries.

Other pool visitors eventually realized Summer was unconscious and called for help. Gabbert believes their quick action may have saved her mother’s life.

“I’m glad they went to go check on her because she would have died otherwise at the pool,” Gabbert told KSAZ. “Her core body temperature was over 104.”

Along with severe burns, Summer was also diagnosed with kidney and liver damage, according to Arizona’s Family.

Gabbert, who is an internal medicine doctor, said her mother’s case shows just how dangerous summer heat can become, especially for older adults.

“I would have never in a million years imagined one of my family members having to go through this,” she said.

As Summer remains hospitalized, Gabbert has launched a verified GoFundMe to help pay for medical bills and the long road of rehabilitation ahead.

In the initial fundraiser post, Gabbert said the family did not believe Summer would survive at first.

“But anyone who knows my mom knows she is a tough old bird and will not go down without a fight,” she wrote.

In a June 18 update, Gabbert said her mother underwent hours of surgical debridement at the burn hospital, where doctors removed damaged skin and tissue. Summer also had three wound vacuums placed.

“Her injuries are much worse than originally thought and she has several 3rd degree burns that required removal of skin and tissue down to the muscle,” Gabbert wrote.

There have been some signs of progress. Summer is now off a ventilator and no longer needs dialysis. But her recovery is expected to be long and painful.

Gabbert said her mother will need more surgeries and is expected to remain in the burn ICU for an extended period. She is in severe pain and faces a high risk of infection.

“Burn injuries are one of the worst things anyone can survive but we already know she is a fighter,” Gabbert wrote. “And we have faith she will survive this horrendous nightmare.”