Standing Tall with S-T-E-P-S
Phoenix World Burn Congress
Indianapolis October 19-22, 2015
Have you ever seen the soul of a person shinning through their eyes with alluring effervescence around their entire being? When you are surrounded by a group of people who are full of life, hope and positivity, you are captivated by the optimism they exude and forever touched by their souls.
Last month, I had the privilege of attending the Phoenix World Burn Congress, where BREVENA donated 75 jars of Daily Hydration Moisturizer for seminars geared towards helping burn survivors “Get Back to Living”. Through the loving direction of Barbara Kammerer Quayle, a burn survivor herself, all survivors are taught techniques to achieve even skin tones, eyebrows and a symmetrical lip line with the help of volunteer aestheticians. After the session, each survivor was given a goodie bag which included a jar of BREVENA for them to use at home.
The cosmetic sessions were just a few of the many seminars and motivational discussions taking place over the duration of the congress. It was an honor to of heard John O’Leary, burn survivor and CEO of Rising Above, share his personal journey and the path he has taken to success in both his personal and professional life. You could not help but feel empowered and triumphant after hearing John speak, as he is an absolute beacon of hope. I strongly encourage you to check him out online or attend his talk should he ever come to your town. It is promised to be one of the most motivating stories you will ever hear.
To say I was moved by my experience at the congress and proud to be a part of an organization that is passionate about giving back to the burn community is an understatement. Not everyone will have an opportunity to attend a conference like this, but you should at least check out the wonderful guide Barbara Kammerer Quayle has developedentitled: Tools for Thriving, which is a series of S-T-E-P-S for social comfort and confidence used to transition into the community post burn injury. I was instantly drawn to Barbara, who is absolutely infectious with her radiant smile and bubbly personality. You may not be lucky enough to have the chance to meet her as I did, but we could all benefit from her S-T-E-P-S tools in our every day lives.
Click here for Barbara Kammerer Quayle’s Beyond Surviving….Tools for Thriving