From scars to rebirth: the story of “Together for Burns and Scars”

There comes a moment when trauma is no longer only physical. It is when you return home, look at yourself in the mirror, and realise that nothing is the same anymore. For those who have survived severe burns, healing does not end with hospital discharge: it is a long journey made of visible and invisible scars, rehabilitation, time, and the rebuilding of identity. Out of this shared experience came Together for Burns and Scars, an association founded by former patients of the CTO Hospital in Turin, now dedicated to support, prevention, and the protection of patients’ rights.

«I am a former burn patient from the CTO in Turin – says Anna Maria Sileo, a member of the board – The CTO saved the lives of every one of us».

Beside her, Lina Bonazza, president of the association, explains what motivated the rebuilding of the group: «We met again in the hospital wards and came up with the idea of bringing back together an association that could support and help burn survivors».

Transforming pain into support

There was no single defining moment, but rather a process. Meetings in hospital corridors, familiar glances, dressings that spoke for themselves. «We realised that we needed each other in order to compare experiences».

Sharing experiences with people going through the same ordeal became the real driving force. From that came a close-knit group founded on listening and on the awareness that only those who have lived through such trauma can truly understand its weight. Entering the ward as former patients changes everything. You do not go in to explain, but to listen.

The message is simple and clear: «I know how you may feel. Hold on, because you will feel better». These are words Anna Maria and Lina once heard from healthcare staff during their hardest moments, and that they now repeat to hospitalized patients. The difference lies in credibility: those words come from someone who has been in the same bed, the same isolation, the same fear.

The work is not improvised. The volunteers underwent specific training, including psychological preparation, because entering hospital wards requires sensitivity and respect. «At that stage, it’s more about listening». they explain. Conversations are never forced, nor are intrusive questions asked. Trust is built gradually.

After discharge: time as the greatest challenge

If hospitalisation is the most intense phase, returning home is the longest one. «The hardest thing is the amount of time it takes to take your life back into your own hands».

Scars are not just marks on the skin: they involve functional limitations, therapeutic obligations, and changes in body image. «You look in the mirror, and you are no longer the person you were before». Two years without sun exposure, wearing compression gloves and garments, applying creams, and undergoing constant physiotherapy. And then comes dealing with the gaze of others. «When you begin to look at yourself in the mirror, you no longer recognise who you are».

Yet it is precisely through this passage that rebirth is built. «I celebrate my second birthday on June 1st, because I was given a second chance», Anna Maria adds.

The silent stigma of scars

Burns often affect the most visible parts of the body, Anna Maria explains. «The first things people see are the face and the hands». Scars may be red, contracted, accompanied by compression garments, tape, or wigs. The social impact is powerful. «People’s looks… they keep you at a certain distance».

For this reason, the association also launched camouflage programs to help those who wish to manage facial discoloration. Not to hide, but to restore freedom of choice.

Direct support is only part of the association’s work. It is also active in prevention, starting from an alarming fact: most burns are caused by domestic accidents.

«The culture of safety in this country is not yet deeply ingrained», the president adds.

To address this, they created two practical tools:
– a simple guide explaining the main hazard symbols;
– a practical leaflet on what to do in the event of burns, distinguishing between first-, second-, and third-degree burns.

But according to the president of Together for Burns and Scars, the most important battle concerns legal recognition. «We want burn disease to be recognized as a rare disease and included within the Essential Levels of Care».

Today, many essential therapies — such as compression garments and specific creams — are not always provided free of charge. «They are expensive, and not everyone can afford treatment», she adds.

A message to those currently in a hospital bed

To those going through this experience right now, the message is simple yet powerful: «We have all been through it». No miracles are promised, and the pain is never minimized. What is offered is presence. «It’s about keeping people company and giving comfort», Anna Maria says.

The relationship is never imposed; it is built. And once established, it can become a bridge back to the outside world, back to life starting again. On the association’s website appears a phrase that sums up the entire journey: «Together, every step becomes stronger and every goal closer».This is the promise of Together for Burns and Scars: transforming a traumatic experience into a support network where no one has to go through the journey alone.