The Burn Survivor

Blog

  • Who wants to start a bible study?

    Lately I’ve been doing digital bible studies in the YouVersion bible app. But I do these alone. I’d really love to have someone or even a small group that would want to do a bible study and discuss things. I know several of the plans in the app, will prompt discussions when done, but I think the app coupled with a chat or group chat could really elevate the experience.

    Would you be interested in a bible study, reach out to me through any of my contacts. Stumbled across this random blog post? Use my contact me page and connect with me.

    With Love,

    Phil

  • World Burn Congress 2025- That’s a wrap

    What can I say but WOW! The trip was absolutely amazing. I was able to reconnect with people that I had met at World Burn Congress in 2015, I also met several new faces and friends from the event. I had signed up to volunteer and that was so rewarding in and of itself. I enjoyed getting to be a friendly face greeting people as they walked into the room and getting to point people to the right place if they were lost.

    The Congress wrapped up with a formal meal and dance. I was initially a little apprehensive about going because I don’t usually do formal, but I put on my best suite and tie, enjoyed dinner with some lovely new friends and then the last two hours I danced the night away. The connections that took place here, I do believe could last a lifetime. In 2027 the Phoenix Society is hosting in Grand Rapids, Michigan and I look forward to trying to join them at that event as well.

  • World Burn Congress (November 2025)

    This year I’m excited to be returning to Phoenix Burn Society’s World Burn Congress. I haven’t been in years but I’m excited I’ve been afforded a scholarship opportunity that allows me to travel to this event. Learn about helpful resources for fellow burn survivors and of course meet new friends along the way. I’m hopeful to learn a ton while I’m there and connect with a few friends I made at my last trip.

    I often times tell family and friends or anyone I’m talking about burn camp with that because I was so young when my burn took place (18 months old). That my burn is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I’d never wish the injury upon anyone and I’m very fortunate, that I didn’t scar badly from my injuries as the injury covered 33% of my body. But the injury allowed me the opportunity to meet people form two different burn camps that ran while I was a child. Hoosier Burn Camp (Still active) and The People’s Burn Foundation- Camp Saturday BraveHearts Burn Camp. (Defunct). Both camps allowed me to escape for a week of a residential summer camp, with peers my age that suffered a similar injury. I learned that while we may all look a little different on the outside, we all have a lot in common. Some of my best friends to this day are from Burn Camp.

    Burn Camp also afforded me the chance to do things I’d never have been able to do. Some of my experiences have been White Water Rafting, Canoeing (The at the time low/dry Blue River), Sailing Lake Michigan, A once in a lifetime trip (All the way back in 2007) to the National Burn Camp (Represented Hoosier Burn Camp) in Washington D.C., I also had the opportunity to introduce my family at Hoosier Burn Camp’s annual winter gathering where they could meet my camp friends and interact with counselors of different years.

    The great thing about these experiences is that they were done at no cost to me. Donors donated to the camps to cover the cost of camp and the trips. I was lucky enough to be able to attend these and made lifetime memories out of it.

  • From the heart of a 13 Year old

    I recently had the chance to read some work of a 13 year old girl. She’s quite precious to me. Thought of as my daughter, even though there is no biological or legal reason for me to say so. Instead her mom’s been my life long best friend. She allowed me to take pictures of 16 different pages of bible studies with this being just one.

    How awesome and in depth is this? At 13, do you think you could have done a bible study and gained this much out of it. Let alone to add the artistic touch to it that she did. To say I’m proud or amazed by this young gal is an understatement. I truly can’t put into words just how in amazement I am at the work God is doing through her.

    Sophie-Ann, I’m so proud of you and I believe you are going to do great things in life. Keep up the hard work and don’t ever let Satan whisper in your ear you are to young, because you’re already doing mighty things. I love you Soph!

  • What’s going on in my life now.

    Well there’s been a few changes in my life most likely since my last posting. It’s been a few months since I’ve jumped on here and written anything. I’m still managing the church website, but I’m also now walking out in a calling that I’ve known I’ve had on my life since I was in my teen years.

    As of March 2025, I’ve started leading the churches K-8th Youth Group. This group of kids has a huge variety of personality especially since they come from a geographic area with out a huge amount of diversity. That’s not a knock on Southern Indiana, its just a reality. It just goes to show that God’s hand is one each individual making them unique. These kids have humbled me and give me a sense of purpose during the week in finding lessons to study. It’s also so beautiful to watch them leading closing prayer.

    Of course one of the perks for me is even as I’m 32 years old, I’m still able to be a kid when entertaining the kids. I may big 250lbs but that doesn’t keep the kid at heart sitting on the bench. I’m so happy walking out this calling.

    I’m still waiting on God to show me who my life companion is, even though I have peace that my life partner doesn’t have to have the same ministry calling on their life that I do. I’m good enough as Phil. I don’t have to have a female companion telling me I can be a leader, I can do it because Phil is good enough.

  • A Busy Weekend

    Man oh man, has this past weekend been busy. Thursday- Monday I was on call for work as the admissions coordinator so even outside of the office I had the admissions phone. Saturday I had the Solemn Assembly: Calling Out Esther’s and Mordecai’s which ran from 9a-7p. It was a great event with awesome fellowship and speaking. Sunday we had our annual Fall Church Cook out. Even more awesome fellowship with the church family and centered around a nice toasty campfire. Tonight was the Fields of Faith hosted at the WRV High School, I had intended to go to this event but work kept me working late which made it difficult to make it to that event.

    Updating the church website has been fun however, I removed the list of events that took place this week on the website and look forward to adding even more events in the futture.

  • What’s been consuming my time recently?

    So much has been going on in the last few weeks. I’ve taken on a role as a webmaster for a local church. I’m not currently linking to their site because it’s not important. What’s important to me is that God’s being glorified by my role as webmaster. It’s given me a new purpose at that church as well. I’ve also been doing Adult Bible Studies authored by Priscilla Shrier. They’ve been an excellent resource in teaching me so much about myself.

    I’ve also recently decided to take a change in how I approach people. Even long time friends. It’s no longer about what I can do for them or what they can do for me but about just trying to be understanding. Life happens, it’s easy to get tangled up. I’ve noticed people’s ability to prioritize or de-prioritize you will be based upon their environment. If you are super beneficial to them you’ll be high, but if someone else comes along and offers them attention they will discard you faster than a bad penny.

    What I’m looking forward to is taking the oldest to the Jordan Feliz concert in late October. I’ve asked her to go with me so that I didn’t have to go alone. She agreed and asked to bring a friend which I told her would be fine. I believe my mother and possibly my brother may attend but even if not I won’t be alone. I’m beyond excited to be able to share this moment with her and share a little Jesus with her.

  • It’s me again!

    I hope as you are reading this you are doing well. You probably notice that it’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’ve been dealing with some depression post divorce. It’s been a struggle to get out of bed some days but through God I’ve made it through each day.

    If you ask me my life looks so different then it did since Mykle and I split. I still work for the same facility that I was working at when we split but we have changed names and ownership. I still get up each morning and try and put a smile on my face as I go out the door. Some days are more difficult than others. I’ve learned that some people I thought I could count on no matter what aren’t there like I expected them to be. I’ve had numerous people who I thought considered me priority show me that I’m not quite the priority that I thought I was. But GOD! I’ve made it through it all. This isn’t a post to glorify mental health. This is a post to glorify that each day I wake up because a God in heaven is not done with me yet. Today I’ve spent most of my day updating the church website found (Here). Feel free to go check it out and come back here and comment what you’d like to see it added.

  • It’s been a minute

    It has been a minute since I’ve taken time to blog about anything going on in my life. After attending the latest Young Adult retreat put together by Hoosier Burn Camp the retreat focused on mental health. I decided to start journaling. Blogging is kind of my public journal, but the paper journal I’ve started keeping is my little safe space. Where I write down thoughts that I wouldn’t share beyond a few close people. While I may or may not let them read everything on the pages depending on whom they are. It’s meant to be a place for me to look back and see how far I’ve come from, but also safe place and a retreat to document my thoughts.

  • Medication Reminders

    So I have for many years struggled with taking medication routinely and in a schedule fashion. I’ve recently set up a reminder on my phone that has me check off the medication I’ve taken. A nifty feature is it will also let me know when I add a new medications I’m taken, if there is a known drug interaction it will alert me.

    Part of the checking the box mentality has me clearing the reminder daily by taking the medication and checking it off as done.