197 days after his burn injury, he is practicing walking on the street for the first time.
Surrounded by an occupational therapist and a social worker of Sunshine Foundation, he takes unsteady, tentative steps.
A distance that would normally take less than 5 minutes to walk, takes him over 30 minutes.
He is slowed down by the tight scars that limit his movements, by the stares of strangers on the street and by the stifling heat underneath the layers of pressure garment.
But each small step that he takes brings him a bit closer to recovery…
Walking is only one of the things that burns survivors who sustained extensive injuries must re-learn in the process of rehabilitation, which can last many months, and even years. But walking is not just physically difficult. It can also be psychologically and socially challenging, as burn survivors become self-conscious about their appearance and worry about people’s reactions. That is why rehabilitation services at Sunshine Foundation rely on a multi-disciplinary team to address the physical and psychosocial needs of burn survivors.
His steps are still unsteady...
Your support of our burn rehabilitation services is what allows our clients to take increasingly steady steps on the road towards recovery. Learn more about our burn rehabilitation and prevention services here. Donate to Sunshine here.
...but soon, he'll no longer need a walker
