Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — A young woman recovering in the burn unit at University Hospital survived a terrible accident five months ago. It was her goal to be well enough to attend the George Strait concert at EnergySolutions Arena this weekend, but she's hit a roadblock and needs some help.
To say Laura Lee Sheehan is a George Strait fan is an understatement. She owns every one of his albums and can't pick a favorite song. She also has a life-size cutout of the country singer in her hospital room at University Hospital's burn unit.
That hospital room is where Sheehan has spent the last five months.
"There's some days that are hard, but mostly I'm just grateful to be alive — ‘cause I shouldn't be," she said.
Last fall, Sheehan's house in Harrison, Mont., exploded. Investigators said the explosion was an accident, caused by a propane leak.
Sheehan doesn't remember the blast — just waking up covered in rubble, calling for help.
With a career that spans three decades, George Strait has racked up the most No. 1 singles of any artist in history ... In addition to his nearly 69 million records sold ... and is third in all genres behind only The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Strait was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
Source: georgestraight.com
"I could see my skin was peeling away," she recalled. "And I touched my hair, and I had a big clump of hair (in my hand)."
Sheehan was in a coma, endured multiple skin grafts, and her right leg was completely shattered. Her left leg was also broken, along with portions of her back, neck, 17 ribs, and her pelvis.
Her voice also suffered some damage from being intubated for so long. She speaks softly now, but she can still sing along with George.
Sheehan made it her goal to be well enough to attend Straight's concert in Salt Lake City on Friday, and she got tickets. But the wheelchair accessible section is sold out.
"I'm in the middle of the row, so I won't really be able to get to my seats," she said.
She's hoping someone will trade her tickets so she can attend.
If you know someone who's going to the concert and has tickets in the wheelchair-accessible section, or even on an aisle where a wheelchair could get to, send an email to jstagg@ksl.com and we'll help facilitate the trade.
Of course, the icing on the cake for Sheehan would be to meet George Strait. If that were to happen, she already knows what' she'd say to the "King of Country."
"I would tell him he looks really good in a cowboy hat," she said.
