"Dedicating My Life"

March 12, 2008 On July 28,1974 at the age of 19 I became a burn survivor in a fiery car crash that put me in a burn unit for 109 days.The first 75 days were in I.C.U. and 7(seven) major surgeries harvesting & grafting skin back to my entire right arm and both upper thighs of my legs.  I was burned beyond recognition at 65% with 1st/2nd/3rd degree burns. Add to that, the loss of an 18 year old young lady I'd just met 3 hours prior on a blind date.She died 3 hours after the accident, and my parents had to order "shock therapy"or I would've went insane from the loss.  The last 34 days of my hospital stay I was in recovery/rehab to prepare for 6 months of physical therapy, as I was completely disabled for 1 year.  I struggled in reacclimating in not only the home, but also the public & workplace.   In 1986, I became proactive in the burn community in burn unit/rehab center visits, burn camps for children ages 8-18, and adult burn survivor retreats.  I'm currently pursuing higher education in Juvenile Fire Starters program & Fire and Life Safety educator. The desired goal of the certification(s) is collaboration directly with the Fire Service to help educate children grades K-12 on:Fire safety/Fire prevention & Arson fires-cause & effect.  I'm dedicating my life to education & prevention of burn injury and loss of life.

Danny
IN

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