Family and friends of a little girl are asking for prayers after the child suffered severe burns in an explosion at a north Charlotte home Tuesday evening.
Family members said Emily Hinton, 1, is a source of great joy to her family, especially her grandmother, who helped care for her every day.
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"She's the first granddaughter for them and everybody just goes wild over her," said cousin Debra Davidson. "It's really, really hard."
Family members said Emily is fighting for her life at a burn center in Winston-Salem, and the girl and her family need help from the community.
On Tuesday, Emily and her grandmother, Belina Carr were outside their north Charlotte home when Carr was burning trash.
"The gas can, she didn't even see where it was, and she doesn't know where it happened, but sparks flown up and landed on it and ignited it, and that's when it exploded," said family friend Denise Mckellar.
The explosion burned Carr in the face and hands, but friends said little Emily was hurt the most.
"She is still in very critical condition. They have her on life support and a medically induced coma," said Davidson.
Doctors said if she survives, she will need multiple surgeries throughout her life.
Family and friends are fighting to stay positive; They're praying little Emily makes it through this.
"It was just a total accident, and even her mom, Amy, says she doesn't blame Belinda for it," said McKellar. "It was just a total accident."
"I can't allow myself to think any other way," said Davidson.
They're also praying for her grandmother, who is trying to recover while thinking about the little girl she loves.
"She's just beside herself with guilt that it was her fault, and I just want her to not feel that way," said McKellar.
Emily's father, Andy Hinton, posted the following message on Facebook after the incident:
"We just talked to doctor and they said if she pulls through she will need multiple surgeries throughout her life... we are having a really rough time wrapping our minds around all this... be thankful for what you have every day because it can be taken away in a blink... my beautiful baby will never be the same.. but I will take her however I can get her and love her like she has never been loved.. please pray for our family... thanks to everyone for their support."
A GoFundMe page for Emily has been set up, which anyone can donate to here.
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