Third-degree burns covering 50% of the total body surface. During my general surgery internship, I was on my trauma rotation. We brought in a 75-year-old woman who had fallen into her large fireplace at home. After evaluating her in the trauma bay, where she was alert and oriented, we transferred her to the burn unit. Once the plastic surgeon in charge of the burn unit was briefed and examined her, he immediately ordered intubation and quietly informed our team that she would be gone in 72 hours, regardless of our interventions. She received aggressive resuscitation and serial debridements in the OR. Like clockwork she died almost exactly 72 hours later. I will never forget the pit in my stomach when i heard that prognosis. Her fate was sealed.