My Nonprofit Reviews

I went to help other burn survivors, ended up being helped!

My first encounter w/BCRF was in the early 90's when Michael Mathis was still getting the initial idea of a camp going. I was introduced to Michael as someone who could help in the camp. I was a young Elementary Ed/ Pre-Nursing major just looking to get involved, & maybe help in the changing/ bettering of a few lives. Who could have know that i would be the one that had a life forever changed...for the better. I was in a house fire @19 days old & had been told my whole life by parents, teachers, & even some "friends" that i would never be anyone or amount to anything, i was told my dreams- especially of nursing were ridiculous & that i should hide my ugliness away from the world. I had been in a few abusive relationships because i'd been conditioned to think that a girl that looks like me should take what she gets & be thankful for it. My 3 yrs @BCRF camp as well as involvement in the foundation itself gave me a new perspective on life & on being me. As i listened to my campers stories & offered them advice & support i realized that the only way i could truly be a role-model was to heed my own words. I began to change my outlook as i encouraged others to do the same. As a counselor i was rewarded w/the same amount of love, respect, & inspiring confidence boosts that i had intended to give- receiving was a prize i never expected. I will never forget the year a Shriner's Hospital nurse, that i'd had care from, told me to complete my nursing & let me help out in the Nurse area when needed. My time w/BCRF outside of camp has been more of the same; cheered on to finish school, follow my heart, & put myself in positive alliances. On a personal note, seeing Michael in his role as father also silently evolved my thinking, i had been told not to have children because "some-one like me" would bring a child only emotional turmoil & that child would be ashamed having to always "explain me" to friends. Today, i am a nurse (graduated w/honors & recipient of various awards in my field), i am a confident mother of a wonderful, bright, & healthy boy, & i am in a position of enough self-confidence that i choose to surround myself w/only positive associations. The only thing missing is for me to return to camp as a nurse, now that i've relocated back to WA State i see this as another reality via BCRF. Would i be this accomplished without Michael Mathis & Burned Children Recovery Foundation? I honestly think not.

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