Child nearly killed in Prichard house fire writes book and hosts signing

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) – At just 8 years old, Justice Nodd has been through a lifetime of hardship. Despite that, she smiled her way through the book signing of her first book, “True Beauty,” a story of overcoming tragedy with triumph.

“It was a happy, a fun and an emotional day for me,” Nodd said.

In 2015, Nodd was severely burned in a house fire in Prichard at just 5-months-old. Her 3-year-old sister London didn’t make it. She’s had over 40 surgeries and counting.

An army of people stood in line waiting for Nodd to sign their copy of the book.

“I didn’t know it was going to be that [many] people,” Nodd said with a smile on her face.

The book signing was at the Prichard Fire House on Turner Road. The firehouse that dispatched the firemen who saved her life from the fire.

“All we heard was the mystery man. That’s all that we head. Someone went in, we never knew, and it’s amazing to see him today,” Andre Nodd, Justice’s father, said.

That mystery man was Capt. Chester Outlaw, who was reunited with Nodd for the first time in eight years.

“Me and my partner at the time were the first ones to make entry inside the house when we first got there,” Outlaw recalled at the book signing.

Another hero remembers responding to that call; Gabriel Rodriguez.

“I was the second engine in,” Rodriguez said. “I pulled a backup line, and I went in to help them with the search.”

Rodriguez has since retired from firefighting, but he said that fire still haunts him to this day.

“I still remember the screams of the mom when she showed up,” Rodriguez said.

Through the screams, the flames and Nodd’s dozens of surgeries, Prichard Mayor Jimmy Gardner said he is glad to see her inspiring others at such a young age.

“So many people have been able to walk away today feeling encouraged,” Gardner said.

Nodd said she plans to write another book soon called “Vampire Dad.” She says it’s about a dad who isn’t able to be at home with his children because of work. The goal of the book, according to Nodd, is to highlight her father’s sacrifices to keep the family going.

Her book can be purchased on Amazon.

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