Sharon was looking forward to a well-earned holiday and starting a new job. According to her, life couldn’t have been more perfect.
But in a single moment, everything changed.
While celebrating Halloween with her husband and two daughters, Sharon was sitting beside an open fire when it exploded.
“I don’t remember much of what happened, but it was frantic,” recalls Sharon.
As friends tried to douse the flames with a hose, her husband rushed to her side. Desperately trying to extinguish the flames and remove her burning clothes, he suffered burns to his hands in the process.
Emergency burn care at Royal North Shore Hospital
Sharon was placed in an induced coma and airlifted from Newcastle to Royal North Shore Hospital – the state’s specialist referral centre for severe burn injuries.
When Sharon woke up in ICU a week later, she was shocked to learn she had suffered burns to 54% of her body – a life-threatening injury requiring intensive, specialised care and a multidisciplinary approach involving wound care, infection prevention and extensive rehabilitation.
“It was very painful, and my wounds were horrible,” said Sharon. “There were burns to my face, neck, chest, armpits, arms and legs.”
Over the following months, Sharon had almost 30 surgeries, including wound dressings, removal of dead tissue, skin grafts and procedures to release contracted tissue.
For months she had to remain on her back with her arms outstretched, unable to move freely. Nurses would gently reposition her, and occasionally, as a small treat, she was given a pillow for half an hour.
Recovering from a severe burn injury
Her dressings were changed every few days which could take two nurses up to four hours. Sharon recalls every experience as overwhelming, not knowing how her skin was healing underneath the compression bandages and whether she required further surgery.
“I put myself into the hands of the healthcare teams and let them do what they needed to do,” she said.
With her family in Newcastle, the nursing staff became her surrogate family. They watched cricket with her – even if they didn’t like it – and filled her room with joy, ensuring she didn’t feel alone.
With Christmas approaching, the nursing staff decorated Sharon’s room with colourful ornaments and hung baubles from the ceiling. Physiotherapists organised arts and crafts so Sharon and her daughters could make a paper Christmas tree together when they made their weekly visit.
“The nursing staff were such beautiful people who really cared,” said Sharon. “They treated me like a person, not just a patient.”
Sharon endured immense physical challenges following her burns, including chronic pain, relentless itching and restricted movement caused by severe skin tightening. With the unwavering support of dedicated physiotherapists, she committed to intensive twice-daily rehabilitation sessions to rebuild her strength. She had to relearn how to walk, bend and use her hands – basic movements that had become monumental tasks. The persistent pain made even simple everyday tasks, like writing or preparing a meal, an overwhelming challenge.
To help her regain independence, the occupational therapists found creative ways to support her recovery – from food preparation in the hospital kitchen to restore functional use of her hands, to using various gym equipment to improve mobility.
Understandably, she also battled major psychological hurdles. With the majority of her body covered in a compression bandage, she felt self-conscious leaving the burns unit. After five months in hospital, Sharon was excited to return home, but her journey wasn’t over.
Starting a new chapter after a severe burn injury
Back home, Sharon had to learn to drive again and rebuild her life. It took a year for her to regain hand function, and while she no longer wears compression garments, she admits they were a comfort – hiding the scars that still draw curious looks and questions.
“I love summer, being outdoors and going fishing,” said Sharon. “But I have to stay cool. I can’t sweat because if I do, it gets itchy and could cause infections if the skin is broken.”
Laser therapy has led to significant improvement in her skin’s elasticity and reduced thick scar tissue. It’s made a world of difference for Sharon – both physically and emotionally.
“My mental health has improved,” said Sharon. “Mainly due to the laser treatment which has made a noticeable difference to my skin.”
Today, Sharon works in school transport, supporting children with diverse needs on their journey to and from school. She continues to navigate challenges but her remarkable resilience shines through.
Sharon will have further surgery on her hand to reduce the overgrown web spaces caused by scarring, which will help improve her hand function and grip.
“There are not enough words to thank the staff who took care of me,” said Sharon. “They are everything – unique, caring, thoughtful. I wouldn’t have got through this without them. They are special human beings!”
Nurse Sally Trevaskis reflected on Sharon’s journey. “It was an absolute privilege to nurse Sharon and support her through her recovery. Her strength and resilience were remarkable. She embraced each day with courage and positivity, and her story will inspire so many others. This is the very heart of why I became a burns nurse – being a part of that journey of healing, even in a small way, is one of the greatest privileges of my work.”
With your support, we can continue to provide life-changing treatment and hope to patients with severe burn injuries. Donate today.
