Neville’s Story

What happened?

It was a typical Saturday morning. After having breakfast and making my to-do list, I put on my headphones and began gardening out front. Meanwhile, my three kids were inside, watching TV and eating their breaky. Abruptly, they all came rushing out, shouting at me. I couldn’t understand what they were trying to say, and it took me a minute to remove an earbud and grasp what they were saying: “The backyard is on fire!”

Initially, I thought, “Kids can be so dramatic,” assuming it was just a tiny pile of leaves or a bin that had caught fire. I thought grabbing the hose would be enough to handle it. So, I sprinted down the side of the house, but as I turned the corner, I ran into a raging inferno of flames. The kids were right; the entire backyard was engulfed in fire.

At that moment, it felt like time had slowed down, although, in reality, I stood there for only about 30 seconds. But it was long enough for me to take in the harrowing sight: the outdoor furniture consumed by fire, the patio roof caving in, and the windows shattered. A stark realisation hit me when I spotted flames licking the roof — “the house is gone.” With that thought, I turned and ran back to the front of the house.

When I saw my children, I was relieved to know that they were all safe and had the sensibility to call 000. Suddenly, the hot water system exploded, which prompted me to turn the gas and mains power off. By this time, I felt like I had exhausted my capacity for logical thinking, and I impulsively ran inside to retrieve my dry cleaning, only to see flames consuming half the house. We stood helplessly outside, watching our home burn, waiting for emergency services.

The police were the first to arrive. One officer looked at me and suggested, “We should put some water on you.” Confused, I replied, “Oh no, I’m okay, not really hurt.” But he insisted, “Please, just humour me.” It was only then that I realised I might be injured. I was hosed down for about 20 minutes with a neighbour’s hose. During this, my skin began to change to a tan colour, revealing the extent of my injuries that I hadn’t noticed until then. An ambulance took me to Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Treatment and recovery journey

Upon reaching the emergency department, medical staff attended to the burns on my arm, neck, and head. They performed debridement – a procedure to clean and remove damaged tissue – and then applied dressings to the affected areas. By Saturday afternoon, I was discharged, dressed in a spare change of clothes and heavily bandaged, resembling an Egyptian mummy. I was given a follow-up appointment and instructed to go to the adult burn clinic at FSH on Monday.

As soon as I entered the clinic on Monday, a nurse, recognising the severity of my condition, determined that I needed immediate, elevated care. Within minutes, I was ushered into a positive-pressure room, a specialised environment designed to prevent infection. There, my burns were meticulously examined, and the dressings were changed. It was clear that a skin graft surgery would be necessary. Amidst this, a sense of awe struck me at the expertise and proficiency of the burns team – it was evident they were true professionals who knew exactly what they were doing.

Shortly after my initial appointment, I underwent graft surgery. The results were remarkable, and I was amazed by the exceptional skill of the surgical team. My recovery involved a period of rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, during which the burns team began preparing me for my transition back to everyday life. They dedicated time to educating me on proper care for my burns, ensuring I was equipped with the knowledge and tools needed for healing. This included being fitted with pressure garments.

As I transitioned to outpatient status, I continued to attend regular appointments at the clinic, a routine that persisted for two years. Throughout my entire journey with the multidisciplinary burns team, I felt a deep sense of confidence in their expertise. Their kind and respectful manner made a significant impact, and I was always reassured that I was in the best of hands.

One day, I was walking to an appointment, and I recall a moment when I passed Professor Wood in the clinic. At that time, I wished I had paused to express my admiration for the team’s exceptional work. Fortunately, I’ve had numerous opportunities to interact with her since then. In these meetings, I’ve been able to convey my gratitude and, interestingly, contribute a part of my journey to her work by providing samples from my arm for her ongoing research. These interactions have added a unique and meaningful dimension to my recovery and rehabilitation experience.

Life now

“I tend to direct my attention and energy towards things I can have an effect on. I can’t control the fact we had lost our home, but I can do things that will improve my recovery, as well as how we as a family bounce back. It was inspiring how friends, family, and the community rallied to ensure we were well cared for. It reminded us all that the world is full of lovely people.”

Neville

Due to the outstanding care I received from the start, including surgery, ongoing laser treatments, and physiotherapy, I’ve achieved a full recovery. I regard my scarring as minor and live my life unencumbered. My gratitude towards the entire team at the burns clinic is immeasurable. As another small gesture of giving back, I participated in the Central Park Plunge 2023, raising funds to support the Fiona Wood Foundation’s education and research efforts. Additionally, I’m involved in ongoing research studies with the Foundation, aiming to ensure others receive world-class treatment for their injuries, just as I did.