Steve + Diane: Two Experiences, One Love Story

Physical recovery from a burn injury has come a long way. Medical technologies are better than ever and survival from a severe burn injury has become a reality for most. However, emotional support is a key role in recovery in which medical advances cannot treat.

Part of Phoenix Society’s core mission is to contribute to the emotional recovery of a burn injury. Some of our most powerful resources are centered around support, including Phoenix World Burn Congress. Phoenix WBC is the world's largest gathering of the burn community, connecting attendees with support, resources, and each other. For many, it is
their first opportunity to join with others on the journey of recovery. For Diane and Steve, it was the place they found support and where they found their soul mate.

Diane’s Story

At just one and a half years old, Diane pulled a boiling pot of water off the stove and was burned by scalding water. At the time, Diane and her family were living in France, and few resources were available to help with burn recovery.

When Diane was a teenager, she and her mother moved to California. They were both struggling with the emotional and social aspects of a burn injury, but they connected with a local support group that improved their recovery. A few years later, Diane attended her first Phoenix World Burn Congress.

“This is where I established lifelong friendships and truly felt that I became part of a second family,” Diane said. “I am forever indebted to Phoenix WBC and the burn community. It has meant the world to me and enabled me to learn to cope with my burns.”

Steve’s Story

Steve’s accident occurred on what seemed to be a typical day in the workplace. Steve was working in an industrial paint booth exhaust booth when a fire erupted and he found himself trapped. Eventually, he crawled out through a small opening at the bottom of the vent.

Steve found a way out the fire, but his journey did not end there. Instead, it was only beginning. He received third-degree burns on 85 percent of his body. Though his doctors were skeptical of his chances of surviving, his medical staff and his family remained hopeful. Steve became the first Canadian recipient of a new technology called Life Skin, which used a small sample of his healthy skin to grow hundreds of patches of skin for grafting. At the time, Steve had 36 major surgeries and was in a medically induced for more than two months. Steve was then transferred to the burn unit where he worked hard to regain his strength.

About two years later, Steve’s plastic surgeon and occupational therapists spoke about Phoenix World Burn Congress. After receiving financial support from the worker's compensation board of Manitoba, Steve was on his way to the conference, which was being held in Philadelphia.

“I will always remember that first experience of arriving at the conference hotel lobby,” Steve said. “Right away I noticed other survivors who were like me. It was the most significant sense of acceptance and belonging I had felt outside of my home since I was burned. It was a tremendous relief to see with my own eyes, that I was not alone.”

How They Met

In June 1998, the Phoenix World Burn Congress was held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. One night, Diane’s friends convinced her to go out as a part of the social opportunities at the conference.

“Steve was also at this outing, and it was love at first sight,” Diane said. “We danced together. We shared a cab back to the conference hotel. In the elevator, we held hands to say bye. At that moment, when I looked into his eyes, I felt I had finally found home.”

When they parted ways after the conference, they remained in touch and talked on the phone almost every day. Two months later, Steve visited Diane in California, and they both knew they were meant to be. By August 2001, they were married. After struggling through infertility issues from the burn injury, they eventually had two beautiful children, Reid and Sarah, whom they consider to be their second miracle.

Where They Are Now

While their journey is far from over, both Diane and Steve have come a long way since their burn injury.

Throughout her childhood and adult years, Diane struggled with accepting her hidden burns. With the support the burn survivor community, she has stopped hiding her scars and dresses however she chooses. She went on to help many other burn survivors and studied occupational therapy, including writing her thesis on the psychosocial effects of burn injuries. After graduating top of her class at San Jose State University, she has worked
at the Deer Lodge Center in Winnipeg for over 20 years and now serves as a senior therapist. She also contributes through support groups and has made presentations on the impact of hidden burns.

As for Steve, he first returned to work as a young burn survivor, but did not want his story to be the front and center of his job. He didn't want others to think that he was hired just because he was injured. He wanted to show he was capable of doing the job just like everyone else. After the burn injury, Steve began a career in occupational health and safety (OHS) by volunteering in high schools and talking to students about workplace injuries. At 25, he became a Workplace Safety and Health Officer with the Manitoba Government and earned his certificate in OHS with honors.

Today, Steve is a Prevention Consultant with SAFE Work Manitoba, a leading public agency dedicated to the prevention of workplace injury and illness. Steve also recognizes the importance of self-care. With the support of his managers and family, he took a period of time off to focus on treating his PTSD triggers, anxiety, and depression.

“I researched all I could about major burn injuries, understating trauma and the effects of daily living with burn scars,” Steve said.

“I had additional surgeries to alleviate some pain and reconsidered ear and hair reconstruction...Today, I am more proud of and have better acceptance than ever before of my burn injury.”

In 2017, Steve and Diane attended Phoenix World Burn Congress in Dallas, Texas. They hope to resume attending on a yearly basis. In the near future, they hope to bring their kids so they can begin their own journeys as children of burn survivors and discover their own resilience and strength through their parents’ example of love and perseverance.

Finding Your Support

Phoenix World Burn Congress changed the lives of Diane and Steve in many ways. Both found love but they also were connected with more than just one another. Diane and Steve found a community of support and a place where they feel safe and loved.

Phoenix Society is here so that no one ever has to go through a burn injury alone. We strive to provide resources to make both the physical and emotional recovery of a burn injury easier. If you are looking for emotional support, we offer many resources to the burn survivor community. From Phoenix World Burn Congress to Online Peer Chats, we are here every step of the way. If you would like more help to get started or guidance about which
programs might be a fit for you, please email us at info@phoenix-society.org.