Barbara Monteith is a survivor. But it hasnB次元官网网址檛 been an easy journey to get to where she is today.
B次元官网网址淚 hope to never hear that blood-curdling sound come out of my body again,B次元官网网址� Monteith said, recalling the 2011 accident. B次元官网网址淚 was making coffee one morning, I reached across the the stove to turn the element off and my sleeve caught on fire.B次元官网网址�
But the house coat she was wearing was wrapped tightly around her and she couldnB次元官网网址檛 get it off. Dropping and rolling also wasnB次元官网网址檛 an option in the small galley kitchen.
B次元官网网址淓very little move I made, made it worse,B次元官网网址� she recalled. B次元官网网址淚 had to stand there and take it.B次元官网网址�
MonteithB次元官网网址檚 boyfriend heard her screams and came running to help.
She suffered second- and third-degree burns to her right hand and arm and spent four days in hospital. While she was prepped for surgery twice, she didnB次元官网网址檛 need to undergo skin graphs. B次元官网网址淚 got lucky on a few things,B次元官网网址� Monteith said. B次元官网网址淭he physical recovering, IB次元官网网址檓 good at that B次元官网网址� but I ignored the emotional.B次元官网网址�
After a year in compression and countless bandages later, she thought her wounds were healing. But it was not a happy time in her life with other emotional traumas pilling on and a vertigo problem that developed after the fire. In the end, it cost her her career as she wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to continue working.
People would ask how she was doing, but the looks they gave her when she told them made her avoid the subject. B次元官网网址淚 just stopped telling my story and thatB次元官网网址檚 not very helpful,B次元官网网址� she added.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 when Monteith decided to attend a burn survivors meeting. As a high school counsellor by profession, she decided to go, thinking she could help others with her training. But she still didnB次元官网网址檛 understand the toll the fire had taken on her.
B次元官网网址淚 was so in denial B次元官网网址� I struggled a long time and I still do,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淔or me the emotional trauma was the worst.B次元官网网址�
Looking back at her battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, Monteith said she was depressed for two years, suffered panic attacks and didnB次元官网网址檛 recognize the person she had become.
B次元官网网址淚 just couldnB次元官网网址檛 settle my nervous system B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 like your body betrays you,B次元官网网址� she said, adding stimuli in the city can still overwhelm her system. She decided to uproot her life and move away from the mainland, landing in Langford.
Now as she continues on her road to recovery she hopes to raise awareness about the emotional impacts burn can have on survivors and help others with their recovery.
RELATED: B.C. woman praises Burn Fund after boat explosion in 1978
ThatB次元官网网址檚 where the Hometown Heroes Lottery comes in, to help with moving from surviving to thriving. Tickets are on sale now until July 12 with approximately 3,000 prizes worth more than $3.2 million including luxury homes, vacations and cars. Proceeds from ticket sales go to specialized adult health services and research for British Columbians.
B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 sound like much but they mean a lot,B次元官网网址� Monteith said, adding those supports are crucial for recovery as it can be a long, expensive journey.
Funds also help support the B.C. Professional Fire FightersB次元官网网址� AssociationB次元官网网址檚 Burn Fund. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Burn Fund was established in 1978 and provides life saving supports and enriching services to British Columbians.
Victoria firefighter Kirk Corby sits on the board of directors and has been volunteering with the Burn Fund for 13 of his 15 years as firefighter.
He started by helping out at Bright Nights in Stanley Park, the Burn FundB次元官网网址檚 other major fundraiser, but quickly found his passion in working with young survivors at Burn Camp.
Burn Camp is a week-long summer camp, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, for roughly 70 campers ranging in age from six to 18. ItB次元官网网址檚 put on by roughly 70 volunteers and while it is free to attend, it costs the Burn Fund almost $3,000 per camper. Thanks to donations, the fund is able to cover campersB次元官网网址� travel costs, accommodations and camp operations.
During his first year at camp, Corby was assigned two of the youngest campers. One of whom, couldnB次元官网网址檛 wait to go swimming. But when the pool day finally arrived, Corby noticed the boyB次元官网网址檚 enthusiasm falter. B次元官网网址淗e was dragging his feet looking for his sun shirt,B次元官网网址� Corby remembered but hustled him out the door anyways.
When they arrived at the pool it was chaos, filled with kids and floating toys. But amidst all of the noise, one of the kids in the pool yelled out to the little boy and asked why he was wearing his sun shirt.
Corby said you could have heard a pin drop as silence fell over the pool. The little boy lifted his shirt to reveal where he had been burned on his tummy. He pointed to his scars B次元官网网址渁nd he said B次元官网网址榥obody wants to see this.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
The roughly 30 kids in the pool starred back at the little boy and in unison yelled, B次元官网网址渘obody cares here.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭hat kid took off his shirt and threw it over the fence,B次元官网网址� Corby said with a smile B次元官网网址� and thatB次元官网网址檚 one of the reasons he goes back every year.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very powerful for them to feel that sense of normalcy B次元官网网址� everyone is like them,B次元官网网址� Corby said. B次元官网网址淭hey wear their scars like a badge of honour, where in their school, they might not do that.B次元官网网址�
And thatB次元官网网址檚 just camp, the Burn Fund has a number of programs that support survivors of all ages. B次元官网网址淚 see the impact that weB次元官网网址檙e making,B次元官网网址� Corby said. B次元官网网址淚 believe in it, IB次元官网网址檓 not going to stop.B次元官网网址�
For more information on resources go to or learn more about the contest at .
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