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It was December 24, 2000, as Susan McKeon and her

It was December 24, 2000, as Susan McKeon and her family sat on the pews during a religious service in Riga, Latvia. Susan’s husband Mark was on a work assignment with the Department of Justice in Latvia, and Susan was there with their three children working as a nurse for the American Embassy. In Susan’s pocket was a folded-up magazine article about a 5-month-old baby girl whose mother had dropped a cigarette into the baby’s crib and passed out drunk, unable to hear, much less tend to, the baby’s cries. The article was a plea for a family to adopt the abandoned child. A voice in Susan’s head kept asking her, “What about that baby?”

The next day, Susan and Mark went to the children’s hospital to visit the girl. As soon as Mark laid eyes on the baby, with second- and fourth-degree burns covering her tiny body, with and one amputated leg and the other severely deformed, he turned to Susan and said, “This is our daughter.” “I know,” she replied.

Adopting a baby in Latvia was no easy task and the process typically took 2 to 3 years. Thankfully, with the help of the Latvian press and with this baby’s dire circumstances, little girl Vladislava Ceremniha officially became Megan McKeon in July 2001. Immediately after the adoption, the McKeon family moved back to the U.S. to get Megan the proper care that she needed.

Megan had undergone 23 surgeries, survived sepsis and underwent a number of skin transplant operations in Latvia, a majority of which were done without anesthesia...this was only the beginning of Megan’s burn survivor story and her journey to recovery with the help of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. Her full story, along with forty-nine others will be released in a commemorative 50th Anniversary coffee table book later this year. Please follow us each Monday as we share excerpts of the stories that have inspired and motivated us for the past 50 years!

#aarbf50stories #aarbf50 #aarbf #burnsurvivor #motivationalmonday

Bill to prevent burn injuries passes in Congress!

Bill to prevent burn injuries passes in Congress!

Survivors for Good (SFG), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on preventable injuries, announced the passage of Bill H.R. 806, the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act (PFCSA), which has the potential to prevent thousands of burn injuries and hundreds of deaths each year in America.

Use the Linktree link in our bio to read the story.
http://chewelahindependent.com/national-news-bill-to.../

#aarbf #burnprevention

This year’s Young Adult Summit is going virtual

This year’s Young Adult Summit is going virtual and you’re invited! The Virtual YAS will be held February 19-21. For more information, please visit: https://www.aarbf.org/project/young-adult-summit/

Using the Linktree link in our bio, reserve your spot before February 7 to ensure you receive your “camp in a box” in time for the weekend. https://forms.gle/1NcKZzb9yvpdWyko6

#aarbf #burnsurvivor #yas #yas2021

On this Thankful Thursday, we would like to thank

On this Thankful Thursday, we would like to thank Dr. J, Pointdexter and Sunflower for leading us through an amazing yoga flow on January 6th. It is important to practice self-care and yoga is a great way to do that. We will be hosting more online yoga sessions in the coming months so please keep an eye out for those announcements. Namaste!

#thankfulthursday #aarbf #burnsurvivor #virtualyoga #namaste

Join us for the 2021 Virtual Adult Retreat, “Mai

Join us for the 2021 Virtual Adult Retreat, “Maintaining Connections”, February 9-12. We will have discussions regarding several topics surrounding adult burn survivors navigating through the physical and emotional trials during the recovery process.

Burn survivors ages 21+ are invited to attend. Use the Linktree link in our bio to access the application.

https://www.aarbf.org/event/aarbfs-virtual-adult-retreat-2021/

Don’t delay – registration is due by Tuesday, February 2, 2021.

#aarbf #theretreat #virtualretreat #burnsurvivor

On this Wellness Wednesday, we want to talk about

On this Wellness Wednesday, we want to talk about the benefits of expression. By finding ways to positively express your thoughts and emotions, you can improve the ability to connect with self and others leading to healthier and happier relationships. Other benefits include increasing resilience, reducing stress and anxiety, and improving confidence, just to name a few!

Using the Linktree link in our bio, watch as AARBF’s Daniel Chacon shares a new monthly virtual program designed to help you learn to express yourself through writing, art and music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sdlETw_ta4

Use the Linktree link in our bio to visit our website to register today! https://www.aarbf.org/expression-series/

#wellnesswednesday #aarbf #aarbfexpression #burnsurvivor #expressyourself

Check out the latest issue of the Burn Bulletin us

Check out the latest issue of the Burn Bulletin using the Linktree link in our bio.

https://www.aarbf.org/burn-bulletin/january-2021-burn-bulletin-2/

Not on our mailing list? Sign up today using the link in our bio.

https://www.aarbf.org/news/burn-bulletin-signup/

#aarbf50 #aarbf #burnsurvivor #burnprevention #burnbulletin

As we continue to spend more time at home, the kit

As we continue to spend more time at home, the kitchen can become a gathering place. It is more important than ever to be mindful of kitchen dangers. Whether you are cooking a family dinner or a snack for children, practicing safe cooking behaviors will help keep you and your family safe.

Here are some cooking fire safety tips:
•Keep an eye on what you’re cooking- don’t leave cooking unattended.
•Keep your cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles (potholders, food packaging, towels, etc.) and wipe up surface spills.
•Create a three-foot kid and pet free zone around the stove.
•Older children should only cook with permission and under the supervision of an adult.
•Have a lid or cookie sheet within reach while cooking (to smother flames) in case of a fire.

By following these tips, you will reduce your burn and fire risk!

#tiptuesday #aarbf #burnprevention #kitchensafety #cookingsafety #safetytips

It was September 16, 2013 when Scott Wertz, age 23

It was September 16, 2013 when Scott Wertz, age 23, was finishing packing up his final items to travel back to Philadelphia to begin his junior year in college. He had been staying with his parents for the summer in Menlo Park, CA, when he decided to take a break from packing for a mid-day nap with a soothing candle burning nearby. The next thing Scott remembers was waking up to his shirt on fire. He jumped up and instinctively smothered the fire on the area rug that lay next to him. He then ran to the bathroom to run a cold shower. Still in shock, when Scott got out of the shower he and his brother jumped into the car and drove to the hospital. Scott and his brother tore into the emergency room parking lot, driving over a parking lot divider to get to the entrance. With the shock wearing off, the pain setting in and no words left to speak, Scott arrived at the admission desk of the hospital, lifted up his shirt and dropped to his knees.

Scott was hospitalized for a few hours to stabilize his condition and then transferred to the nearest burn unit 30 minutes away. He was immediately intubated at the burn unit and underwent a number of emergency surgeries. Scott’s polyester shirt had completely melted off him in the fire. He suffered burns over 45% of his body, mainly on his torso, hands and forearms. The only area of his torso that went unscathed was the small strip on his back where he was laying.

This was only the beginning of Scott’s burn survivor story and his journey to recovery with the help of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. His full story, along with forty-nine others will be released in a commemorative 50th Anniversary coffee table book later this year. Please follow us each Monday as we share excerpts of the stories that have inspired and motivated us for the past 50 years!

#aarbf50stories #aarbf50 #aarbf #burnsurvivor #motivationalmonday

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