The Untitled Project

This is Megan Smith she is a burn survivor from North Carolina. She was burned at age 21 while working at a restaurant. She was standing next to the fireplace when someone opened the door; the small gust of wind was just enough to ignite the fire and light her skirt. She was wearing a long skirt, as part of her uniform. She attempted to pat out the fire with her hands, but her acrylic nails combusted and her hands and arms were now engulfed. One of the workers wrapped her in his work jacket and put out the fire. 

She spent the next few months in the hospital. During her hospital stay she coded three times. Megan explained that her life truly flashed before her eyes and she saw a bright light. She had to fight hard to survive. Megan was unable to speak for 3 years after her accident due to complications from a breathing tube and needing a trach. This healing process was slow; she has endured over 200 surgeries. 

Megan explained that she received cadaver skin on her hands that was black market and contaminated. There was a man named Michael Mastromarino, who was illegally harvesting cadaver skin from funeral homes. This man was selling it on the black market to hospitals - the black market skin was not put through the rigorous testing for diseases and contamination like legally harvested skin would be. Unfortunately, Megan received some of this skin on her hands, it caused her to lose several fingers. 

Megan said that some of the things that helped her through this very difficult time was her daughter, who was six years old at the time. She knew that she had to get better so she could continue being a mom. Megan also had her father who was her biggest support system; he was her caregiver until she was able to care for herself. She has accepted her new skin and exudes such confidence. She currently volunteers on a burn ward and talks to burn patients and their families about the recovery process and how to thrive after trauma. 

* A personal note from the author

I met Megan through a Facebook burn survivor group. She messaged me one day just saying she loved the project and that she is a volunteer on a burn ward as well as a burn survivor herself. I asked if she would like to be part of the project and she agreed! She drove to Baltimore from North Carolina and spent two days with me and my family. It was so fun getting to know her. She is such a special woman. She is fearless and her energy is contagious. I am blessed to call her a friend.