Carol’s Story

To All Peter Hughes BURN Foundation Members

We all have challenges in our lives, hurdles to overcome and bridges to cross. It can be scary and extremely daunting as you can’t quite see what’s on the other side. My name is carol and I have a son Zachary, 11 years old.

When I was burnt the year February 3rd 2000, not only did my life change but his did and those I love so much. It was a nightmare and one I would never wish upon anyone. I was burnt in a house fire and to this day the authorities never found out what caused it. I will never have complete closure. Suffering 85% 3rd degree burns, little did I know I was about to embark on a journey I knew nothing about and to begin living a life with permanent scars?

So many questions and no answers….Sadness, loneliness but most of all darkness is what I have seen and more. 10 years later and now I have reflected within the depths of my soul and rediscovered myself again, cried endless tears of both mental and physical and relived the separation from my son in only seeing him 3 times in the 9 months I spent in Royal Brisbane burns unit. Thanks to my family and friends he was nurtured and very loved and cared for.

I am so grateful and thankful for so much and at times there is no word to describe. When others cross your path in life such as people from the Peter Hughes Burn Foundation in coming together as one, it makes you feel proud and privileged to meet such wonderful people that have endured and experienced pain and sadness within themselves in some way and I have had that opportunity to share with them and I am so happy that I did and I will continue as we all will to care about one another. We are not victims. We are survivors.

I am so proud to be Ambassador for the Peter Hughes Burn Foundation and encourage people that are or have been burnt to never be afraid and come forward because we really do care and you’re not alone.

Carol Mayer

Ambassador

Peter Hughes BURN Foundation