02/01/2026
As a burns survivor for 54 years this year it's heartbreaking to watch the updates coming out of Crans-Montana in Switzerland..
The deaths of so many young people is beyond tragic.. and the ongoing physical and mental health support that so many others will need going forward will be essential and hopefully put in place..
Burns treatments have come a long way since my days at Booth Hall Hospital, starting in the very early 1970's.. (although I was a part of many new procedures back in the day as Booth Hall was a world leader in dealing with children and lead the way).
Mental Health support was non-existent though, although the physical care during my regular stays at Booth Hall was always fantastic. A second family for the two weeks stays.
But once you were discharged as a patient, think I was around 12 or 13, that was pretty much it. You (and your family) were left to deal with any ongoing issues yourself... and those issues can have a huge impact on quality of life and mental health, especially anxiety.. I speak from experience..
It's good to know things have moved on massively, both in terms of treatment and ongoing support for burns survivors.. that's the nature of progress and the proof that humanity is capable of so much good when sometimes it's hard to see past the tragedy..
Will be thinking of the ones who lost their lives and the survivors for a long, long time.
