Single Mom of 2 Left with Horrific Burns After Firebomb Attack: 'Felt Like Being Fried' By Becca Longmire

A single mother-of-two in Australia spent over two weeks in the hospital after suffering horrific burns in a firebombing attack.

Penelope Travers, from Mandurah, south of Perth, underwent surgery and had to have skin grafts to her face, neck, chests and arms after someone attempted to throw a firebomb through the window of her car, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Travers wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to help her financially following the incident, “Recently I was the target of malicious fire bomb attacks on my vehicle. The attacker didn’t get the firebomb through the car window during the first attack and instead set my carport on fire.”

“When I went outside to try and put the fire out, the spray paint cans I had near the vehicle exploded in my face. As a result of the explosion I’ve ended up with burns to 25 [percent] of my body including my face, neck, chest and arms,” she shared. 

Travers added, “I required a 4.5 [hour] surgery for skin grafts and required a blood transfusion. I spent 17 days in the Fiona Stanley Hospital burns unit in Perth.”

The incident occurred earlier this year, and police have told Travers that it was a targeted attack, according to Australian outlet 9News.

“It felt like being fried, flesh fried, instant, quick, just burn,” Travers said, per the outlet.

Travers was covered in head-to-toe dressings before undergoing surgery and blood transfusions, 9News reported.

“Both my arms, the backs of my hands and the top of my foot have all had skin grafts,” Travers said, according to the outlet.

On the GoFundMe page, Travers wrote that while she was in the hospital, “the attackers returned to finish the job.”

“This time successfully burning out my vehicle leaving it as a total write off. This was while my 16-year-old daughter was at home by herself. If my dog hadn’t woken her up it could have been a lot worse,” she shared.

“Due to the extent of my burns I am not allowed to work for at least the next [six] weeks. I’ll be required to wear compression garments for the next year to help with the scarring, but despite the garments I will be still be scarred for life,” Travers wrote on the page.

Travers explained that she’s originally from New Zealand, but has lived in Australia for nearly 15 years. She claimed this meant she hadn’t been able to get much financial support from the Australian government.

She wrote, “I’m trying to raise funds to help me pay my rent and utilities and keep food on the table for my kids until I can get back to work. The funds will also go towards transport costs as I am driving the [around 62-mile-long] round trip to Fiona Stanley Hospital twice a week for dressing changes and physio.”

Travers concluded, “I’m just a [mom] who’s trying her best to keep going for her kids. Any help would be greatly appreciated,” before thanking everybody for their support.

She told 9News of the attack, “This brought something traumatic to my doorstep and I couldn’t protect my children from seeing this or dealing with this,” adding, “They’re still having nightmares.”

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Mandurah detectives are investigating, with police treating the attacks as suspicious, according to the outlet. Travers is sore and itchy, but she’s recovering, despite still not being able to work.

Western Australia (WA) Police didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. PEOPLE has also reached out to Travers.

The GoFundMe page had raised almost $2,900 as of Monday, Nov. 3.