The Charity of our Choice is the "Children's Burn Foundation"
For the last 5 years, through a close personal friend, I was introduced to the Children's Burn Foundation and have supported and attended their annual gala ever since. The stories told that evening through video and in person are emotional and eye-opening. You see how in a short moment of time, one's life can be altered so dramatically. The miracle lies in how Children's Burn Foundation reaches out to all these children across the world bringing them in to the Gross Burn Center to bring hope for the severely burned victims who might otherwise be left deformed for life.
The Children's Burn Foundation was founded in 1985 to meet the urgent needs of young burn survivors. The mission of the foundation was to provide financial resources and support for the children with severe burns who would otherwise be unable to benefit from state-of-the-art medical treatments and post-acute burn care services.
In the years since its inception, the Foundation's mission has grown to include services to support the psychological recovery from burn trauma and the short term emergency needs of families, as well as fire safety and prevention education programs for children, parents and Bum Association, to provide burn care education and training at teaching hospitals in developing countries.
Restructured in 1995, the Foundation is governed by a dedicated 25-member board of Trustees. The Council is a group of 70 members that works to support the Foundation's fundraising and community outreach initiatives. Today, the Foundation provides state-of-the-art reconstructive treatment, emergency family assistance, survivor and family camps, counseling, a teen support program, school re-entry support and a newsletter for young burn survivors along with prevention and education programs to nearly 65,000 children and families annually.
The Children's Burn Foundation was founded in 1985 to meet the urgent needs of young burn survivors. The mission of the foundation was to provide financial resources and support for the children with severe burns who would otherwise be unable to benefit from state-of-the-art medical treatments and post-acute burn care services.
In the years since its inception, the Foundation's mission has grown to include services to support the psychological recovery from burn trauma and the short term emergency needs of families, as well as fire safety and prevention education programs for children, parents and Bum Association, to provide burn care education and training at teaching hospitals in developing countries.
Restructured in 1995, the Foundation is governed by a dedicated 25-member board of Trustees. The Council is a group of 70 members that works to support the Foundation's fundraising and community outreach initiatives. Today, the Foundation provides state-of-the-art reconstructive treatment, emergency family assistance, survivor and family camps, counseling, a teen support program, school re-entry support and a newsletter for young burn survivors along with prevention and education programs to nearly 65,000 children and families annually.
More than 80% of burns to children are preventable. American Burn Association
Through the effective education of caregivers and children on life-saving fire safety and burn prevention skills, these needless tragedies can be prevented.
With that goal in mind the Children’s Burn Foundation has developed targeted programs that bring critical fire and burn prevention messages and resources to children and their families. Program services include:
- Careful, That's Hot!
- Fire Safety House
- L.A. Troupe Theatre-in-Education
Here is just one of the many Children's Stories:
NiNi
In March 2007, 17-year-old Ni Na Phung was approached and asked out on a date by a 21-year-old would-be suitor during her friend’s birthday party. Ni Na is from the city of Da Nang, Vietnam near the Marble Mountains. Aware that her family was opposed to dating, Ni Na refused to go out with the suitor, not wanting to dishonor her parents. Following the party, as she and her cousin took an afternoon nap; the rejected suitor doused Ni Na with gasoline and lit her on fire. She was rushed to Da Nang hospital with third degree burns over 75% of her body. Miraculously, she lived. But after three months in the hospital and far from healed, Ni Na was forced to go home when her family could no longer afford to pay for medical treatment.
Ni Na’s father earns approximately $300 a year working in the rice fields, and so her family resorted to medically treating Ni Na themselves. The lack of proper treatment caused the wounds around her neck, mouth, armpits and elbows to tightly constrict her skin – limiting her mobility.
Ni Na has struggled with sadness since the attack. Just as her faith was almost gone, Ni Na learned that the Children’s Burn Foundation would bring her and her mother to Los Angeles for state-of-the-art-burn care.
The Foundation arranged for Ni Na to be treated by world-renowned doctors at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. The Foundation’s staff has also arranged transportation, housing, community support and all of the assistance required to meet her needs during the 12-18 months that she and her mother are expected to stay in Los Angeles.
When Ni Na was told the good news, her first response was “Mother, do you think you could buy me new clothes when we go to the U.S.?” Now Ni Na dreams of one day walking again, going out with friends and meeting Good Morning Vietnam star Robin Williams. Ni Na’s family is overjoyed that her spark for life is back.
Since her arrival in October 28, 2008, Ni Na has undergone several reconstructive surgeries to begin addressing her limited mobility. Ni Na is currently attending physical therapy sessions three times a week at a facility near home.
With the help of Ni Na’s Vietnamese-American host family, Ni Na and her mother are adjusting to life in the US. Ni Na has once again begun to laugh and smile.
Note: Ni Na’s attacker was sentenced to 16 years in jail for his crime.
Thank you Children's Burn Foundation for all the work you do to better a child's life in need.
Marta Perrone
