#11 The Healing Process

So after a month at home with my mom and stepdad, ( I hate to call him that, because he was more of a father to me during that one month than I have ever known, and I now call him Poppy) I returned to Birmingham to live with my roommates. I came a very very long way in a short amount of time, my doctors even raved about my healing. If only everyone had a mommy like mine. Mom did everything for me, it was like I was a small child again, except a lot more vocal! This process was so agonizing. And I am not a fan of pills, so this process for me was more excruciating than it would be for someone who took their pain medicine.

**Fun fact -> Some studies show that pain medicine can slow the healing process.**

I was so excited to move back in to my apartment and be reunited with Brandon and friends, little did I realize on move-back-in day how attached to my momma I had gotten over the past month. I was absolutely terrified. I balled like a baby when she had to go. And independence was a lot harder this time than I remembered it being the last time I moved to Birmingham, five years earlier.

I adjusted. I called mom a lot and spent a lot of time frustrated at myself because I still had a hard time doing things on my own. I couldn't open doors, most less jars or even ziplock bags. I was dreadfully frightened of the kitchen and had small panic attacks every time I heard the slightest sound. So, I started therapy. My doctors told me that I may not need therapy, it was a personal decision. I would have NEVER rehabilitated properly had I not. Heck, I had to have a second surgery and I was taking therapy. Who knows what would have happened had I not been treated properly and neglected therapy! Choosing to take physical therapy and give it my all 3 times per week and do my exercises and rehab outside of therapy, was the smartest thing this gal has ever done!

UAB did not have a physical therapy place that I could treat in so my doctor told me that I could go anywhere. When I asked for further clarification because I had no idea where physical therapy clinics were or if it mattered which one I went to, Dr. Thomas responded, "they'll all be about the same, just pick a place that is convenient to you."

Now, if any of you know me personally, you know that I have been known to have some pretty bad luck. That being said, this freedom of choice that would directly affect my healing process terrified me. I prayed and prayed and prayed that I would find a good therapist and as I went to the gym one day soon after, I spotted right beside my gym, Brookwood Outpatient Therapy. I walked inside and had no idea what I was doing, but without a prescription (because my doctor did not give me one) I stumbled upon two caring wonderful god-sends Mrs. Vivian Williams and Mrs. Cathy Humphries.  With these two wonderful women I began therapy.

Therapy was hard. I am still in therapy. Like I said before, I can not imagine where I would be without it. Therapy helped me mentally, emotionally and physically. And, yes, therapy was expensive. But it is one thing I could not do without. I did exercises as simple as jumping on a trampoline to work on my stamina and my skin graft area behind my knee, and massages that would make me cry. I still do all of my exercises and stretches, 1 yr and 10 months later.

My scar tissue constantly gets tight. (My therapist has warned me that this may be my norm from here on out.) Since the injury I have developed other complications like arthritis, bursitis and thoracic outlet syndrome due to the trauma that my body has experienced.

If you are going through this know that you will need a strong support system, mine was my mom and my, now, husband (the Brandon dude I keep referring too). It is not easy and can be discouraging because progress is very slow, like "turtle" slow! But keep your head high, your hands lifted, claim your healing in Jesus' name, ask for prayer, and do your exercises.

I will post my exercises throughout this process soon! Things I was doing at this point were squeezing putty, doing knob drills (twisting and opening bottles and jars), using the elliptical and doing a lot of stretching and getting massaged. Buy yourself a light, hand-held massager with a rotating head in case whoever you have rubbing on you gets burned out, because it will happen! After 2 years my husband is REAL tired of rubbing my arms. On his behalf, he rarely wines when I ask and I ask almost everyday! :)

#10 Hospital and Healing Photos

This is what I looked like at the hospital. Because Brandon and I were not married he was not able to sit with me in the emergency room. Mom and Scot (my stepdad) were not able to get to the hospital right away, because all of the roads were closed due to a massive snow storm that occurred the night of my injury. My mom and stepdad finally arrived and this is how my parents first saw me. My face was so swollen I could not see and so dehydrated I could barel talk. I was without pain meds for the first 72 hours.


Before surgery took place those bandages that you see on my arms had to be removed. This was the 2nd most excruciating pain I have ever had. I was without pain meds and bandages that were a day old, removing those bandages ripped the skin, scabs, fluid, dried blood and ooze off my tender arms.




After surgery............
The green/brown sleeves were  vacuums for my arms after the surgery to help the fluid drain.

Below is my face after surgery and then my skin graft area on my upper thigh.

Sometimes God puts people in your life that act as your protector/comforter/friend for a brief moment in time. This young lady was truly my guardian angel during this time in my life. She was God's angel put here for me. She was a familiar face in mass chaos, light in darkness, a friend in a strange and terrifying place, Katie DeBord. She is the older sister of one of my dearest friends, Ashley DeBord Hardin. I dont believe in coincidences, I believe in the will of the Lord and His grand plan.

After the bandages came off.....

#9 The price to pay for being burnt

The price of being burnt is complex and on going. Some never fully recover from their burn, mentally and physically. The monetary burden of being burnt.

Today, 2 years later, I can talk about this. My parents (mom and stepdad) and I am still recovering from the monetary burden of me being burnt. Bills are still coming in two years later! I am still in physical therapy two years later! I was just released from the burn unit last month! A burn is a long healing process. It makes you realize how wonderfully made we are as humans. It may take a while and it may not be pretty but when burnt down to the muscle, over joints, through the contractures, through the unattractive healing process, God heals!

We have spent thousands of dollars in bangages, co-pays, medicines, braces, therapy, massages, and garments. Without my parents i could not have healed as beautifully as I was able too. God always provides a way. In the burn unit through numerous visits I was given the chance to talk with many other burn victims and though it was hard for them as well, God always provided. My mom worked two jobs, while raising and providing for three other children and two step children. My mom is a provider. She is the most selfless and giving person I know. Not everyone is blessed with a mom like mine, but everyone faced with a difficult situation is provided a way. It is not easy, not matter your path, but you will make it through.

Tips to savings and healing:
It goes without saying that good insurance is key. I did not have good insurance. Most importantly, find a therapist that is passionate about helping you through this difficult time. I have been with the same therapist for the duration of therapy. You are not bound to seeking therapy at the hospital or to a specific therapist. Your doctor and insurance must approve your therapist of choice.
My doctor did not provide me a therapist nor did he tell me I needed one. You WILL need a GREAT THERAPIST. Mine has been my saving grace, and is the only reason I am as well as I am today!
Shop around for every treatment and garment or brace recommended WITH your therapist.
Therapy is in itself expensive, so work hard to make the most of your time with them.
Have your therapist assign you homework, and anything that you can do before, after or outside your session is good to take advantage of outside of your therapists time.
Invest in a at-home massager, so you or someone in your home can massage your scar tissue outside of therapy.
Look at your spending as an investment for a better you. And take care of yourself! Put your healing 1st! Do not set yourself back by not doing your excersises, research or doing something silly like going out in the sun or over-doing it in your daily activities (if something is too much or too hard, do not work through it risking set backs, relax, breathe and stretch it out. Do not over-do!)

#7 It's been a while...

Hey guys - Sorry It has been so long since I last post. The year of my life has been absolutely hectic! Since my last post I became very ill due to a sickness developed during treatment of my burns, I got engaged and married the love of my life, recovered from the sickness just recently (November 2012), started a new job, decided that life is too short to live in misery, and am pursuing my photography business full time (www.daniellejadephotography.com).
My intensions are to pick up where I left off with the blog and walk you all the way through my experience, until I am well. How long until I am well? That is yet to be known. Astonishing how five seconds can have such an impact on your life.
I urge you to begin following me again as I take you through the rest of my journey and share my story with friends and family, you never know who just might need to hear this story one day! I know I never thought I would...