Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/398704
F a l l 2 0 1 4 I V a n c o u v e r F o u n d a t i o n l p a g e 1 3 At age 23, Heidi Cave was driving with a friend when a car ran a red light, hit her in the intersection, and sent her car crashing into a ravine. It landed upside down and caught on re – the two young women trapped inside. Cave's friend was killed on impact, and Cave's burns from the torso down were so severe that both of her legs had to be amputated. "I was taken to hospital, and then moved to the burn unit at VGH. I spent seven months there undergoing many surgeries and recovery from burns that were down to muscle and bone," recalls Cave. Cave is one of more than 100 adults in British Columbia admit- ted to the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters' burn unit at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) each year, traumatized and su ering from serious burns. ere, all patients are referred to as "burn survivors." Yet, surviving is not enough, says Dr. Anthony Papp, medical director at VGH's burn unit. Instead, thriving after injury should be the marker of medical success. Burns are a leading cause of injury death in the province. But for those who survive, their injuries result in short- and long-term physi- cal and emotional challenges a ecting their entire life. ese range from limb amputations that reduce their mobility to facial burns that a ect their appearance and social identity. And while advance- ments in trauma care have led to far fewer hours spent in hospital, the consequence is that patients must now face many responsibilities for their care on their own. Committed to a higher level of patient success, Papp launched the Burn Quality of Life Project in 2013. e three-year initiative is funded by a grant from Vancouver Foundation. "Although there is some general knowledge about quality of life in burn survivors, no research has been done in B.C., and very little in Canada, to understand the issues involved in recovery," explains Papp. is information gap makes it more challenging to under- stand the wide range of variables required to treat di erent injuries over the long term. Currently, we can only make assumptions that, for example, hand burns requiring surgery may make it di cult to return to work; a severe facial burn may result in increased isolation and lost desire to participate in activities; or a groin burn may cause sexual relationship issues. e goal of the Burn Quality of Life Project, therefore, is not only to see what survivors' quality of life is, but whether there is a correlation between the type of burn (facial, hand, leg), surgery and ICU requirements, length of hospital stay, and any- thing in the speci c injury that determines what type of problems they will have. Papp interviewed and collaborated with burn survivors to structure personalized questionnaires designed to identify both the factors that help survivors reintegrate into everyday life as well as the barriers to their success. Questionnaires have been mailed to all 1,250 adult burn patients who have been treated at VGH since 2000. Papp is hoping for responses from at least 300 to 400 patients. e Burn Quality of Life Project's survey is unique in its level of detail. It takes into account challenges of survival that were missing from other study questionnaires, ranging from the use of pressure garments for scar management to the nancial problems faced by survivors who are the sole breadwinner and are unable to return to work for several months. "If the project can show the correlation between types of injuries and consequences, we can develop ways to predict future challenges and combat issues as soon as the patient is admitted to hospital to prevent these consequences from ever occurring," explains Papp. Initiatives to o set these risks could include informational lectures about available resources, counselling, and support groups for sur- vivors with similar injuries. For Cave, support was most important for recovery. "You can't do this alone," she says. "I had a lot of family and friend support, but it was the amazing hospital sta who understood what I was going through, and the limits I have, that made the di erence. ey showed a lot of compassion." Papp would like every burn survivor's story to have an ending as happy as Cave's: the young man she had started dating just before the accident eventually became her husband, and they now have two children. She recently published a book, Fancy Feet: Turning My Tragedy Into Hope, and shares what she's learned from her experience as a motivational speaker. "Because those working at the burn unit never used the words 'burn victim,' being a survivor shaped how I saw myself. I considered what I wanted my story to be, and made the choice to stay positive. Determination comes into play. I answer this question every day: Do I want to live?" To support projects like this that help fund health and medical research, call Kristin in Development & Donor Services at Vancouver Foundation at 604.629.5186 or visit vancouverfoundation.ca/give