New baby joy for woman set on fire by her ex: Mother who suffered horrific burns across her entire body is expecting with her new husband

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A 25-year-old mother of one who nearly died when her ex-boyfriend threw industrial cleaner on her face and body and set her alight in a horrific attack is now expecting a baby with her new husband.

Tessa Ratajczyk, from Coulterville, Illinois, was put in a coma and given only a 30 percent chance of survival after she suffered severe burns at the hands of 31-year-old Christopher Rollins in 2012.

She had third degree burns on 58 percent of her body - and has since undergone 18 operations.

But now, Mrs Ratajczyk is looking forward to what she is certain will be the 'best Christmas yet' after finding love again and falling pregnant with her engineer husband Randy Ratajczyk's baby. 

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT 

Looking to the future: Tessa Ratajczyk - who nearly died when her ex-boyfriend threw industrial cleaner on her face and body and set her alight in 2012 - is now expecting a baby with her husband Randy (both pictured)

Horrific attack: Mrs Ratajczyk, from Coulterville, Illinois, was left in a coma and given just 30 percent chance of survival after she suffered severe burns (above) at the hands of her former partner, Christopher Rollins, 31

Before and after: The mother of one had third degree burns on 58 percent of her body - and has since undergone 18 operations. Above, Mrs Ratajczyk is pictured before the attack (left) and after it (right)

'We're expecting our first child together in February,' said Mrs Ratajczyk, who also has a seven-year-old daughter called Patience. 'I just feel so lucky to have an amazing man on my arm.

'My scars are proof of the hurdles I've overcome in my life so I wear them with pride.

'After the attack, I never thought I'd be able to trust another man again. 

'This Christmas will be my best one yet.' 

It comes as Rollins has just served the first year of his 30-year prison sentence after being found guilty of aggravated battery at the state's Franklin County Court in November last year. 

Mrs Ratajczyk first met Rollins, then unemployed, in March 2012 after friends introduced the pair.

'I'd just lost Patience in a custody battle with my ex-husband Gared,' Mrs Ratajczyk explained.

Mom and daughter: Now, Mrs Ratajczyk (pictured with her seven-year-old daughter, Patience) is looking forward to what will be the 'best Christmas yet' after falling pregnant with her engineer husband's baby

Shocking: 'We're expecting our first child together in February,' said Mrs Ratajczyk. 'I just feel so lucky to have an amazing man on my arm.' Above, this photo shows the victim's scarred neck after she was set alight

Badly injured: Mrs Ratajczyk's hand is pictured healing following dewebbing surgery in the wake of the attack

'I hit rock bottom and turned to meth to ease the pain.

'After I met Christopher two months later, we became inseparable. I moved in with him, but our relationship was cemented by drugs which alienated me from my family.

'Seeing happy families with their children made me realize that I wanted a better life. I hadn't seen Patience in months and knew I needed to sort myself out if I wanted to see her again.

'I vowed to get clean.'

Mrs Ratajczyk broke up with Rollins and went to his house to fetch her belongings.

But when she arrived at the property, he confronted her and accused her of cheating on him.

'I ran into the house hoping he would leave me alone, but he caught up with me,' she said.

'He shoved me and told me, "I'll show you hell, I'll take you there". 

Life-changing wounds: Mrs Ratajcvyk proudly shows off her engagement ring, left, after her now-husband proposed. Right, the young mother's fingers have been reduced to stubs as a result of the brutal assault

In hospital: Mrs Ratajczyk bravely gives a thumbs up as she prepares to undergo her 14th surgery in hospital

'Every time I tried to flee, he blocked me. I'd never seen him that angry before.' 

Seconds later, Rollins hurled a bottle of clear liquid over his ex-girlfriend's body and face.

'After the attack I discovered that it was industrial strength brake cleaner,' Mrs Ratajczyk said.

'I lifted my arms to shield myself from the liquid, but it was hopeless. 

'Then he lit a lighter and my body instantly went up in flames.

Happy: The expectant mother smiles with Patience

'The pain was excruciating - my screams are still etched into my memory. 

'He calmly left the house. I couldn't believe he'd left me there like that.'

With her body still alight, Mrs Ratajczyk dashed outside and dropped to the ground, frantically rolling to extinguish the flames.

Neighbors heard her terrified screams and rushed to her aid, before calling 911.

'Lifting my hands to my face, I saw that my fingers had melted off and several stuck out at right angles to my hand,' said the mother.

Paramedics arrived at the scene and hurriedly carried severely-burned Mrs Ratajczyk into an ambulance, where she stopped breathing.

At hospital, the victim was induced into a coma so that doctors could treat her burns.

While she was unconscious, medics broke the devastating news to her family that she had only 30 percent chance of survival - but her mother, Valerie Mason, 56, refused to give up hope.

'When I woke up from the coma two months later, mum explained where I was and I just burst into tears,' said Mrs Ratajczyk.

'I'd really hoped it'd been a nightmare. Defiant I told my mum, "I've been given a second chance and I'm going to have a beautiful life".'

Mrs Ratajczyk spent 10 weeks recovering in Saint John's Mercy Hospital, Missouri.

Since then, she has undergone 18 surgeries including skin grafts, amputations of her fingers and laser surgery - but will need further treatment for the rest of her life.

'My entire body was burnt in the attack except for my feet and the inside of my elbows,' she said.

'My ears melted off - luckily my hearing wasn't affected. 

'But my fingers have been reduced to stubs. I refused to let Christopher rob me of my independence, so I spent hours relearning how to brush my teeth and eat.'

Attack: Rollins (left) was jailed for 30 years for setting fire to Mrs Ratajcvyk (right, two years after the assault)

Mrs Ratajcvyk and Patience beam for the camera in March 2011 - a year before the mother's life was changed

After leaving hospital, Mrs Ratajczyk spent several days at her mother's house in Thompsonville, Illinois, where she saw her young daughter for the first time since her attack.

'She ran into my arms and whispered, "Are you back?",' Mrs Ratajczyk said. 'I nodded cheerfully.

'Patience is so resilient; my injuries have never fazed her. 

'Despite the support from my family, I didn't unveil my scars in public until almost a year after my attack. Now I'm not ashamed of how I look.'

Of Rollins's 30-year prison term, she added: 'I'm pleased he was jailed for a long time. 

'I still have nightmares about what happened and forgiving Christopher wasn't easy.

Moving on: A month after Rollins was jailed, Mrs Ratajcvyk met her now-husband. The pair married in March this year after a whirlwind romance. Above, Mrs Ratajcvyk is seen in photos taken after the shocking attack

'But I've finally moved on. I'm determined to help others realize that life is beautiful and worth living, especially now I'm completely clean.'

A month after Rollins was jailed, Mrs Ratajcvyk met her now-husband.

The pair married in March this year after a whirlwind romance.

'I've never felt so in love. Randy makes me feel so beautiful,' Mrs Ratajcvyk said. 'Patience is with me almost every day and I've got her on Christmas day too. I can't wait for her to open her presents.

'This Christmas will be my happiest - we're having a baby and I'm so lucky to have such a perfect family. I wouldn't change anything for the world.'