Girls with Grafts

It's World Burns Week, and today's podcast episode features a special takeover by Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors' CEO, Amy Acton! Amy, who has been actively representing the organization on the World Burns Week steering committee, welcomes two incredible guests from Nigeria: Dr. Onuh and Patience. Dr. Onuh is a passionate and skilled surgeon dedicated to advancing burn care, while...

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Amber, and Rachel are joined by the incredible Ingrid Parry, a passionate physical therapist and rehabilitation researcher with years of experience supporting burn survivors on their recovery journey. Ingrid's unique perspective, gained from her extensive research and leadership roles, adds a valuable dimension to our discussion.  Together, we explore phys...

In this special Girls with Graft episode, we’re spotlighting Fire Prevention Week with Phoenix Partner Summit Fire & Security! Rachel sits down with Steve Rice, a seasoned expert with years of experience as the Operations Manager of the Installation Department at Summit Fire & Security, to discuss all things commercial fire safety.  Steve shares practical information on how Summit Fire &am...

In today's episode, Rachel and Amber sit down with burn survivor Jason Nelson and experienced burn injury attorney Matt Cunningham to explore the complexities of navigating a burn injury legal case. Jason shares his inspiring story of resilience and recovery, showcasing firsthand how you can turn a tragedy into triumph. Matt provides expert legal insight, breaking down the anatomy of a burn in...

Medley Zeigler Bokun and her husband, Kevin, were just three weeks into their marriage when tragedy struck, and they were both involved in a home gas explosion. The two newlyweds found themselves spending what typically is considered the "honeymoon phase" in the ICU.  In today's podcast episode, Medley joins Rachel and Amber to talk about her burn injury, the struggles she faced after...

What's something that rhymes with no-handed? Bandit!  In today's podcast episode, podcast hosts Rachel and Amber are joined by Samoana Matagi, better known as the No-Handed Bandit. Sam talks about the high-voltage electrical accident that caused him to lose both arms and how the No-Handed Bandit was born. We also chat about Sam's first time through a toll booth, his recent encounter wi...

Play and work with joy is a mantra Michael Van Every lives by. In today's episode, Rachel and Amber are joined by Michael, who was injured in a house fire as a child. Growing up, Michael knew he was different from his peers but never let that stop him. Over time, he found his own voice through playing sports, from the support of his parents, and believing in himself.  Now, Michael is the Presi...

Kechi Okwuchi, a living example of resilience, faced a life-altering plane crash that left her with burns over 65% of her body. However, Kechi's story is not one of despair, but of hope and positivity.  During our live episode, Amber and Rachel caught up with Kechi and learned more about her America's Got Talent experience (including who her favorite judge is!), and what's next with he...

We say it all the time: nothing heals survivors like other survivors. In today's podcast episode, Diana Tinney joins us again to discuss research, advocacy, and helping other survivors. Diana shares how she got involved with research, sheds light on common survivor struggles with nutrition, and opens up about overcoming addiction.  Upon her return from the hospital, Diana found solace in peer...

We're kicking off Season 5 of Girls with Grafts with a fun Q&A with your hosts, Rachel Kudlak and Amber Wilcox! Rachel and Amber start today's podcast by sharing their burn survivor stories, how they're doing now, and how they got connected with Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. They also chat about their love of reality TV before running through ten rapid-fire questions. Whether...

In our final episode of Season 4 of Girls with Grafts, Rachel and Amber are joined by survivor, actor, and author J.R. Martinez.  If you don't know J.R., you'll learn quickly that he is full of energy and living his best life post-burn injury – but that doesn't mean he hasn't had challenges along the way.  As humans, we often underestimate our potential, see limitations, and settle...

If you’re subscribed to Phoenix Society’s mailing list, you’ve most likely received at least one email asking you to partake in a burn care research study. As survivors, our stories and voices are crucial in providing true lived experience on the physical, emotional, and social recovery after a burn injury. However, most studies simply ask survivors to complete a survey - and once the survey is co...

A burn injury often changes how we feel about ourselves, and for survivors who lose their hair, their whole identity can feel different. The emotional impact of hair loss is significant, and it's a journey that many survivors can relate to. When a survivor does experience hair loss, they usually turn to wigs as a solution to help them feel like themselves again—however, wigs are not the only o...

Summer is quickly approaching, which means summer camps are in full swing! Summer camp is usually an extremely positive and beneficial experience for any child - but for burn survivor children, camp offers more than just fun. It provides a supportive community where they can share feelings and experiences with other children who have experienced similar trauma, fostering a sense of belonging and u...

After years of hiding a prominent birthmark on her face, Paige Lauren Billiot now proudly highlights her facial difference. She was born with a port-wine stain birthmark on her face, ear, and neck, and now hopes to inspire others to embrace their imperfections. Paige Lauren Billiot is Face Equality’s newest ambassador and in honor of Face Equality Week, we invited her on the podcast to talk about...

Most burn survivors and caregivers can remember a special burn nurse who truly impacted and changed the trajectory of their healing journey. In honor of National Nurses Day, we’re celebrating all of the wonderful burn care professionals with Emily Werthman, Ph. D. (c), BA, RN, CBRN! After losing her mother to a house fire, Emily was drawn to burn care and began her career as a bedside nurse. Over...

In honor of National Volunteer Week, Rachel and Amber are joined by our Volunteer of the Month, Xiomari Castro! Whether she's helping survivors and caregivers find their miracle of the day or providing hope through hugs, Xiomari's passion for helping the burn survivor community is truly inspiring. Her commitment and dedication are evident in her roles as Phoenix SOAR Coordinator and Spanis...

We've all heard of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but have you heard of post-traumatic growth? Post-traumatic growth is all about the positive transformations people can undergo after experiencing trauma. During this episode of Girls with Grafts, we hear from Christopher Gage, a burn survivor, and his caregiver and wife, Holly, on how post-traumatic growth impacted their healing journe...

Have you ever filled out our "contact us" form? If you have, then you've already met today's podcast guest: Liliana Palacios, Phoenix Society's Community Resource Coordinator! Liliana is a burn survivor who has worked with trauma survivors in various capacities throughout her career. She discovered her passion for community service after sustaining a major burn injury when she...

Ever wondered about donor-less skin grafts? Or how cryotherapy is used for pain control? What about spray-on skin? In this captivating podcast episode, we're joined by burn survivor and burn surgeon Dr. Jason Heard to explore these intriguing topics and more, as we delve into the latest trends and treatments in burn care.  Dr. Jason Heard, a burn survivor turned burn surgeon, brings a unique p...

In this inspiring episode of Girls with Grafts, Diana Tenney-Laperriere shares her story of survival. In 2010, one surprisingly warm early spring day turned into tragedy when Diana was burned over 90% of her body. At the age of 54, Diana was given less than a one percent chance to live. More than 400 days later, Diana returned home.  Years and countless surgeries later, Diana and her husband, Jerr...

Retired Occupational Therapist and dedicated burn survivor ally, Barbara-Anne Hodge joined today’s episode of Girls with Grafts! We talk with Barb about her experience working on the burn unit for over 25 years and what led her to help establish the Mamingwey Burn Survivor Society. Although retired, her work with the burn community has not slowed down! Barb is now a dedicated volunteer, ally, and...

It's true: laughter is strong medicine. Scientific studies have shown a direct correlation between humor and the diminishment of pain. In addition to easing tension and comforting others, comedy and laughter have been shown to help in various medical and psychological ways, including combatting fear, reducing stress, and even boosting the immune system.  In this episode of Girls with Grafts, A...

Join us for an inspiring episode of "Beyond Survival," where we welcome the remarkable Michelle Escamilla as our special guest. Michelle's life is a testament to the power of resilience, self-love, and unwavering determination in the face of adversity. As a burn survivor, spouse, friend, and passionate advocate for self-love, Michelle's story transcends the boundaries of mere survi...

We’re kicking off season 4 of Girls with Grafts during National Burn Awareness Week! National Burn Awareness Week is hosted by the American Burn Association and this year’s theme is spreading awareness about preventing flammable liquid burn injuries.   And who better to join us than the American Burn Association’s president, Dr. Rob Cartotto! In this episode, Dr. Cartotto and Rachel discuss what i...