Survivor's Hope

I am the founder of Survivor's Hope and also a Burn Survivor. In 2004, I was in an explosion accident. I had 3rd degree burns over 90% of my body. Doctors gave me 1% chance of survival. Miraculously I survived and God gave me a second chance of life. I am very grateful for that and I felt that I had to give something back to the community. I started writing a book, making a documentary film, a website, and started the Survivor's hope org. My goal is to raise public awareness for burn survivors and survivor's in general to let the world know that we are not victims but we are Survivor's.

In November of 1998, I was burned during a High School science experiment. The explosion left me with burn scars over 40% of my body, including my face. Fortunately, I was aided in my recovery by a loving family and supportive friends. With their help and my own determination, I recently received a degree in Psychology at U.S.C. I feel burn survivors are uniquely blessed with a profound understanding of humanity in a society obsessed with vanity.

I am a survivor of the World Trade Center attack of 9/11. I was on the 95th floor of Tower 2 when the first plane hit. I'm now writing a book describing my journey of healing since. My life mission is to share words of hope and awareness to those whose hearts are open to it.

In the beginning of March my ex, and the father of my two young daughters, came home with a chemical lice solution as the girls had been in contact with friends who had lice and had picked up a couple. It wasn't necessary, and as we are into organic products that are chemical free, I could hardly believe that he thought it was necessary. When he came in with it, my instincts were to tell him not to use it, but he was adamant and that we would do the natural thing after. I had to go out and left him to it. God only knows how I wish I had been firmer in my stance. About an hour later I received a phone call from him and could hear... Read more here

I was burned Dec. 11, 2005, when an LPG tank exploded. Almost 70-80% TBS got burned. My medication is still on going since Dec. 11, 2005 until present, which is the weekly change of dressing done at the hospital. My friends and families are my inspiration, I know God has purpose. Please help me.

Hi My name is Sara my six year old boy survived 37% third degree burn we are very touched by your story.. He would love to meet you.

I was burned, 20% , in a devastating house fire in March of 2007. I suffered burns on my entire left hand, arm and side of neck. I have made it my mission to advocate for Burn Survivors and to aid in Social Reintegration through Education. I am a firm believer that the fire changed my life -- for the better.

When I was 5 years I was involved in a house fire in which my youngest sister died in and was severely burned over 90% of my body in efforts to save her. For those who say that beauty is only skin deep, they are right and burned skin is the most beautiful skin in the world. So for all of you who are brining sexy back one graph at a time, no worries. It's all to your benefit.

When I was only 10 years old the neighborhood bully forced me into coming into my garage, right before he told me to come inside he deliberately told me to go get hair spray out of my house, when I arrived back with the toxic fumes. He was 13 at the time so he had all the intentions in the world. As time proceeded he pushed me to the wall and light the flame on a lighter and sprayed hair spray towards it, which made a huge torch. I immediately ran out of the garage in flames gasping for air, luckily my sister was on the porch listening to the CD player, so she alarmed my older siblings and I soon fell down which smothered the fire. I was sent to the Shrniers institute in Cincinnati, Ohio and was treated there.

Sometimes there is a bit more to a burn survivor's story than just being a burn survivor going through life, with physical and emotional scars.
At the age of 9 going through an ordeal like that, is unimaginable for most. Now 55, I grew up in Campbell River, BC. When my burn occurred, there were 3 of us at the start; one was 10 and his brother was my age 9 who decided to play down closer to a small swamp behind my friend's house. My friend had gotten a quart jar of gasoline from his Dad's basement, which was about 3/4 full. Finding some sticks we used them as spears, by dipping them in the gas trying to light old stumps on fire. When the flame on the end of the spear went out we would dip them in the gas and light them up again. Read more here

I was in a campfire accident, trying to use gasoline to stoke the fire, it blew up in my face. The nozzle to the gas tank caught on fire so I threw it and when it hit the ground the gas sprayed up my right arm, right side of my neck, head, and most of my face. I was left with 3rd degree burns. My arm scarred up but you can hardly tell by looking at my face. I too want to help other who have to go through this. I am trying to start a donation at my school, OAK HILLS HIGH SCHOOL in CINCINNATI, OHIO. It has about 3500 students so I think I can help, with their support of course.

Hi my name is Carol, my son Connor who is now 16 was staying overnight at his friends house last year when they decided to mess about with petrol. during this moment of madness Connor was set alight. He sustained horrendous burns of 3rd and 4th degree to 90% of his body. He has just been discharged from hospital after spending 11 months and 2 weeks in the Burns Centre at the RVI Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. He was on many occasions given no chance of survival, but has amazed doctors, family and friends and is doing really well now. He suffered so many other complications due to his injuries, kidney failure, collapsed lungs, duodenal ulcer and countless infections. All of which threatened Connors life each time.... Read more here

When I was 6 weeks old a kettle of boiling water fell on me and scalded 80% of my body in 1st, 2nd and 3d degree burns. I was on life support for 2 weeks and they turned off the machine to time my death, but I took a breath. I have had roughly 40 operations from skin graphs to moving muscles from my back to my arms and reconstruction work. I'm unsure if I am one of the youngest people to survive such a bad burn ever but I was suppose to die. There is no medical reason for me surviving, but 27 years later I am happily married with 2 children.

I Am A Burn Survivor I Was Burnt In A Gas Explosion Aug 14, 2001. Here is my story...
On Aug 14,2001 At 3:30 PM My brother age 11 at the time and I age 8 were coming home from school. Usually we wait outside of our home until my oldest sister got off her bus. The wait wasn't that long maybe 5 to 10 min.. On this particular day we had a key, so we went inside. When walking in our home my brother and I smelled gas, yet at that age didn't understand really why or what to do. So we proceeded to our regular routine. Once we flicked the light switch to kitchen, the kitchen and living room area blew up (dragon like). Knocking down a wall that became our exit out, Help from neighbors kept us calm until fire and rescue got there. (We Had A Gas Stove) Later... Read more here

My daughter, Yelena Dordzhiyeva was 7 years old when she burned herself by playing matches in 1991 in Russia. Her dress caught on fire and she sustained very bad 3rd degree burns which were life-threatening. In 1993-94 she was a patient at the Shriner's Hospital in Boston, MA and went through three reconstructive skin graft surgeries. Now Yelena is an honor student in a Nursing School in Cleveland, OH. I am proud of her. The tragedy changed our family's lives and through the sufferings we found God. We came empathic and strong. We love to help people.

This poem I dedicate for my daughter Yelena and all burn survivors.... Read the poem here

Hi, I found your website while looking for a support group for the kind of abuse that I had, and I thought maybe you could help me out with that. You might be interested in hearing about the abuse I experienced, because so far I haven't been able to find anyone with the same case. What happened was between ages one and a half and three years old. I was left with a baby sitter during every weekday as my parents worked. Every single day it seems, this woman, who it turns out was into occult type stuff like black magic, would lock me in a dark closet and tell me the devil was in there, and of course I believed her completely at that age, and I would get so scared I would go... Read more here

It was January 5th 2001 5:30 am there were 7 people in the house and my grandma always got up at 5 to shower and to fix breakfast for me my sister, my two cousins and my grandpa, uncle but how little did we know that my grandma while in the shower saw the house burning while the rest of us were sleeping. I hear my grandpa screaming for me but I didn't know what was going on so I remember I was aiming at the door my sister still asleep so I made no noise as soon as I touch what I think was the knob it was hot after that the door opened. I remember touching a leg and now that I think about it I think it was my grandmas leg...
Read more here

Hey man I just wanted to say that you give hope more than you may know! I just found out that a good friend of mine's husband just had an accident at work...he is right around the same age as you were when you had your accident ( maybe a year or two younger)...fell into a vat of liquid that was over 300 degrees and has 90% of his body covered in 3rd degree burns. He is currently in a coma but I believe I heard that he may have just started breathing on his own. He married his high school sweetheart and they have 1 son. I just wanted to say that you have proven that it is possible to not only survive such an event...rather that you can come out and start living life again. Thank you for your inspiration brother!

My son Eric Pickering is a burn survivor. It was November 18 2008. And it would change life as my family and i knew it...
It was a Tuesday, I remember this so vividly. We were settling down for the night, and i kept telling my husband i could smell something funny, like a smell after you poor water on a fire to put it out. We searched the area of the house where we had our wood stove and fire place, we found nothing. About an hour later, about 10:30 pm, I got up again to check out the smell, it wasn't going away.... Read more here

My name is Jenna Martinez. On December 9, 2006 my then 1 1/2 years old daughter Brissa Vargas got burned with boiling water to just about 3/4 of her face, left shoulder, and down the middle of her stomach. She has now recovered with minor scaring from that horrific day, me and her father will always remember. Now, Brissa is a 5 year old. She is a fun and loving child, with a full of life ahead of her. She competes in many Pageants & wins most of them. Brissa wants to reach out to burn victims. If she can do it, so can they. She doesn't let her burn scars get in her way.

I was burned on Nov. 30 2009 from a gasoline campfire. My boyfriend at the time through gas on a fire and it mushroomed up and hit my face and my arm. My body was 30% burned with 2nd and 3rd degree burns. If I hadn't stayed awake the whole time I was rushed to the hospital I was told I would of died. They gave me an estimated time of 4 or more months I would be in the hospital. I ended out come home on Jan. 18th of 2010. I had 2 surgeries all together. I was called the miracle child in my unit, due to the fact that I had a very slim chance of living, but I pulled through. It was a hard trip for me due to the fact that I knew I would be getting different looks now that I was burned. But I accepted that I was going to be different and just kept faith that everything would turn out all right. I was welcome back to school and home with open arms. Now I know how important it is to be yourself I know that I'm beautiful on the inside and out. I hope I can be an inspiration to many others. My advice to others live life like you normally would, yes people are going to stare but people stare everyday, and if they truly want to be in your life they will be.

I'm Megan. After finding this website and reading all the stories about burn survivors, I am truly amazed at how much people can pull through and survive traumatic things such as major burn injuries. Anyone who has experienced a burn injury must know that they are such a strong human being! I myself was burned when I was only one year old. I was put into extremely hot water, and suffered from 3rd degree burns on the lower half of my body, and was not expected to survive through the night. The next morning, I was still living and breathing. I went through many surgeries, and spent many days, weeks, and months in the hospital. Later in the recovery I developed a severe skin infection that took over my burns, and almost lost my life once again, but I ended up pulling through that also. I don't look at my scars as a flaw, but as a stamp of strength. It makes me who I am. I am now living a happy life. I cannot give enough thanks to my mom, who is absolutely the one who helped me survive through it all and who also had to stay strong through the whole experience. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?

Back in 1966, my Dad, Harvey K. Smith, was involved in a flash fire at 1900 degrees F. He was burned over 70% of his body, and, given what was available at the time, given little chance of survival, let alone use of his hands or legs. It was by God's grace that he survived(49 skin grafts)and the infection that follows all massive burns. This also happened in CA, city of Compton I think. Your story is pretty powerful, but so is my Dads', especially considering the time it occurred 2/8/66. Thanks for allowing me to share.

When I was 2 years old I happened to be in the kitchen while my father was cooking dinner. He had just boiled water and cooked potatoes when he was about to turn to the sink and drain them, when I fell and he tried to catch me. Unfortunately as he did this he poured the boiling water all over my body. I was left with third degree burns all over my back arms and legs and stayed in hospital for over a month. Although it was a horrible thing I'm kind of glad this happened, I think it shaped me into being the kind of person who is grateful for the life I have. I also still really like potatoes.

I am a pyrotechnics engineer and have been developing special pyrotechnic products for customers for 5 years, from smoke grenades to thermite fire starters to large 10 pound military flares. We were at that time developing a new military magnesium signal flare that was designed to float down under parachute from a high powered rocket and burn at 1 million candlepower. We shut the shop down in Jan 08 due to the economy. We had to bring back the box of 10 pounds of flares and had then stored in a 10 x 10 room. I was in the room at the back end of the room when the flares auto ignited. This auto ignition was caused by moisture being absorbed by the magnesium. The 10 pounds of flare pellets went up with in 30 seconds. I had to walk through the flames to escape. The burn temp of these flares was around 5,000 degrees F. and burns bright white like the sun. I was exposed maybe for 5 seconds and suffered 3rd. degree burns over 40% of my upper body, mainly my back and arms and shoulders while blocking my face with my arms. I spend 5 weeks in a induced coma in Boston and left to the rehab in Concord week 6. They claim it was imposable to walk away from that type of fire but I say you go when your time is up.

I fell asleep driving home from work one night, totalled my car and was trapped in the driver's seat when my engine caught fire. A truck driver passing by stopped and pulled me from my burning car before it exploded. I am thankful that I only had 3rd degree burns from my right knee down. I am currently recovering and learning how to walk normally again. Slowly but surely I'll be back at it. Burn nurses and doctors are angels.

I am a mom of a burn survivor, my son was 13 when he was burned from a gasoline explosion at a wrecking yard, he suffered 3rd degree burns to 50%, he is burned from the waist up to his cheeks, front and back. He was burned in 2008 and it still doing at least 2 surgeries per year, he just finished #24. I was amazed at your photos, I can't believe how you look like you were never burned, I am wondering what the degree of your burns were, I would like to give my son (now 16 almost 17) hope so he will decided to continue having procedures done. Thank you for what you are doing, I too would like to start an awareness program, I fully believe God has given my son an incredible testimony! His injury was due to static electricity and no one seems to be very aware of that, there were 510 static elec. gas explosions in 2009 in NY, how many more do we need before action is taken, I would like to take that action and make people aware of this seemingly innocent danger! We live in PA, and have treatment in Pittsburgh. Thank you again for your courage and determination.

On Feb. 7th I woke up to the sound of my fire alarm. When I opened my bedroom door there were flames in every portion of the house. I ran into the fire trying to find my 4 year old son. After a few minutes I realized I could not stay there, and went outside. The ambulance came and took me to the hospital. I later found out I had burnt 60% of my body (3rd degree). When I finally awoke from my coma I was unaccepting of the condition I was in. My younger son had died in the fire, and I was certain I was going to leave the hospital in the next week or so, go back to work, and take care of my older son, who had been at school when the fire started. After time I realized I was not going home soon. I healed quicker than expected, and had most of my entire torso, arms, and hands grafted. I finally left the neuro ICU in the middle of March, and was sent to a rehab facility to help me get mobility back. I couldn't walk, or feed myself. After about a month and a half at The rehab hospital I was discharged, and went to live with my mom while continuing therapy for the next 3 months. It is September now, and I have since returned to work, and coping day by day the the emotional trauma, and ups, and downs of everything that has happened. I look to a brighter future with continued healing, and hopes of some surgeries, and treatments that will help put me back closer to where I was before.