This photo brings tears to my eyes every time. It captures me at a moment in time when everything was simple, carefree, and innocent. I was four years old, smiling into the camera, unaware of the storm that was about to hit my life. This was one of the last professional photos of me before everything changed.
February means Burn Awareness Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness about burn injuries and fire safety. You might be wondering, What exactly is Burn Awareness Week? Well, I'm glad you asked. It’s a week promoted by the American Burn Association (ABA) with a goal to not only raise awareness about burn injuries but also to prevent fire-related accidents in our communities. One of my favorite parts of this week is being able to share my story and connect with others who have walked similar paths.
So, here’s part 1 of my journey as a burn survivor.
Part 1: The Burn and Recovery
I was just four years old when the injury happened. The innocently simple act of blowing out a candle became the moment that would change the entire course of my life. I remember the birthday party, the dimmed lights, the sweet smell of cake, and the flickering candle flame. The string on my sundress brushed against the candle, and in an instant, the fabric ignited.
It’s strange to think about how something as routine as blowing out a candle can be so life-altering. Thousands of people do it every day without giving it a second thought. For me, it was the beginning of a long, painful road that would change me forever.
In that instant, fear surged through me as I realized what had happened. I ran, the flames catching faster than I could comprehend. I screamed for my mom and found her in the hallway. When she saw me, panic set in. The sight of me covered in flames, my skin already burning and blistering, is one that’s forever etched in both our memories. She acted quickly, ripping off my burning dress and pushing me into a cold shower.
Burn tip: If you’re ever in a situation like mine, never use cold water. The shock it puts the body into can worsen the damage. Always use cool or lukewarm water to gently remove heat from the burn.
After what felt like an eternity, my dad arrived, and the decision was made to rush me to the hospital. Cherokee Regional Medical Center wasn’t equipped to handle the severity of my injuries. I was flown by life-flight helicopter to St. Luke’s Burn Unit, where they specialized in severe burns. My body was in full fight-or-flight mode, struggling to survive.
But survival wasn't guaranteed. Three days later, my lungs began to fail from complications. That’s when I started to understand the gravity of the situation. The doctors were concerned I might not make it through this. And honestly, I had no idea what was happening; my young mind couldn't comprehend the extent of the pain, nor the life-threatening decisions my parents were facing.
It was then that the next chapter began. My parents were faced with the decision of where to send me next for more advanced care. After much deliberation, they chose to send me to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). This is where things took a sharp turn into the unknown for me and my family.
I remember hearing whispers around me about surgeries, life support machines, and the daunting reality that my life would never be the same again. I could feel the weight of those words even though I didn’t fully understand them. They put me in a medically induced coma to give my body a chance to heal. Three weeks of being in a coma felt like an eternity to my family.
When I woke up, the world was different, and so was I. Nearly half of my body had been burned to third-degree, and the odds of surviving this were less than five percent. I was a walking miracle, but what did that mean for me?
The next few years were filled with pain, recovery, and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. The surgeries came—more than 90 to date—and with each one, I learned what it meant to survive. But I also learned that surviving wasn’t just about living. It was about finding purpose, sharing my story, and advocating for others who had been through similar struggles.
One of the hardest moments of my life was when surgeries transformed what I thought was my life. For example, I had a surgery in 2020 that radically transformed how I physically looked. It hit me so deeply and skin hard. I finally began to love myself and then things changed and I had to relearn. I had to rediscover what my body looked like.
As a child, my “normal” was different than most. Normal meant being in and out of surgeries during every holiday, taking a handful of medications throughout the day, and visiting countless doctors. It wasn’t easy, and often, it didn’t feel fair. But this became my life. This was what it meant for my life. Even today I struggle with what may happen or when things will heal or how ill get stronger.
But I was stronger than I could ever have done without the support and love of people around me. It was a struggle my entire life but today I am living the best life because I never gave up, even when I wanted too!
So here is part 1 of the story. Just speaking to my burn story. The injury and the beginning of my journey to healing. Stay tuned for more, share with others, and ask any questions you have to the blogs email!
