This is Heather. Her hands and chest were burned in a grease fire when she was a teenager. While she was cooking, the pan caught fire. She tried to put out the flames by dousing it with water; this caused the fire to flare up and singe her hands and hair. She was in high school at the time. Heather had several surgeries and months of physical therapy to regain use of her fingers. She shared with me that she was only self-conscious of her scars while in the healing process. She learned that this was her new normal and embraced her scars as part of her. There's not a day that goes by that she doesn't notice them, but they don't deter her from showing her hands.

A Note from the author: I met Heather when I was 12 at Mid Atlantic Burn Camp. She was the cool counselor and everyone wanted to be in her group. Everyone looked up to her because she was strong and not embarrassed by her scars. She was fun and adventurous. When I became an adult and went back to MABC as a counselor, I was lucky enough to work along side her and learn from her. When I put this project together, I knew she had to be part of it. I am grateful that she was my first participant. 

Be brave, be strong, be courageous. You are beautiful.