Statistically speaking, there are thousands of cases of peoople being burned each year with some being more severe than others.  Thirty-two years ago I became one of those people.

It was around 5:45 pm on September 22, 1971 when my younger brother (then age 7) and I decided to make some popcorn as a snack.  When it was done popping, I decided it  would be better with some melted butter on it.  My sister warned me how  our om didn’t allow us near the stove when she or my Dad were not home.  I didn’t listen and took a metal measuring cup out and filled it with some butter and proceeded to melt it on the electric burner. 

I had just washed my waist long hair so had a towel around my shoulders along with my new poly-cotton quilted bathrobe, pants and slippers.  When I went to get the pot off the stove, even though the burner was brown, it was still hot and caused my sleeve or towel to catch fire (not sure which).  The material stuck to me as I tried to blow out the flames.  After panicking and seeing the flames coming up to my eyes and throwing a pot of water at me did no good, my sister took me outside to put me out with the hose in the garage.  I later found out t his was done to prevent any damage in the house.  Little did we know that the carpet around the kitchen was wool and I could have safely rolled in it to put myself out.

In conclusion I’d like to state that “burns are one of the most horrific traumas a human being can endure” and no one can truly understand what its like unless they have endured it themselves.

Survivor