 "At
nearly two years old, my daughter Terri
was involved in a serious house fire.
She suffered burns to more than 85%
of her body.
Being in hospital for
eight months with her, I saw many people
admitted with burns. I did not realise
until then just how many people suffered
burns, or that half of them were young
children.
One of the hardest
things to come to terms with was the
way people looked at us. They seemed
to see only her scars and Terri is
obviously sensitive to this. People
with burns can become outcasts just
because they look different. It's difficult
to convince others that, whatever a
burns victim looks like, they are still
normal inside!
When we were in hospital
I received very little outside help
in dealing with what had happened.
When I tried to find out more information
there seemed to be very little. There
should be more social and psychological
support, because this could be the
start of a new life for the families
involved.
More research into burns is vital to help save lives, reduce scarring and help those who face a future with disfigurement. The Healing Foundation offers real hope for children like Terri." |
