Michael Mathis, Founder and President of Burned Children Recovery Foundation
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It was February 18, 1967. Michael was living a normal life with dreams like any other child. He had just received an all-star award as a catcher in the Snohomish County little league and dreamed of playing professional baseball. Michael went to spend the night with a friend not knowing that his life was about to change forever. It was just after 11 pm when his friend poured gasoline on a camp fire. The gas can exploded and Michael was burned over 64% of his body.
"After years of surgeries and negative reactions to my scars I learned that I had been given a unique gift and have the opportunity to affect people’s lives just by meeting them. I now have the opportunity to share my wisdom with the 280,000 children that are burned in America every year.
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"After years of surgeries and negative reactions to my scars I learned that I had been given a unique gift and have the opportunity to affect people’s lives just by meeting them. I now have the opportunity to share my wisdom with the 280,000 children that are burned in America every year.
The most difficult thing in the recovery from burns is trying to understand how to deal with the staring, name calling and in-appropriate responses to my scars by others. I learned to understand people were just like me, simply attempting to understand what they were looking at. I learned to separate my scars from my spirit inside and made the choice to live my life un-affected by the public response to my scars.
Burned survivors understand that you, the public are not always prepared to respond appropriately when you see us. However we do want you to understand that beauty is inside and learn to except everyone with your hearts first and not what your eyes see.
I could not have done this alone and I Honor and appreciate the efforts of everyone that has volunteered and supported our children since the BCRF was founded in 1989. This is a legacy for all who have loved our children."
Sincerely, Michael T. Mathis
