Survivor not Victim, Stories Behind my Scars and the Path to Thriving
Victim, survivor, thriver my camp counselors and mentors wrote down on the easel in front of us with the mountain view behind. I first learned this analogy while attending a camp for young burn survivors like me and since than a vision was formed. A vision of me living as a survivor and thriver to my burn injury and not a victim and helping others learn how to do the same. My book Survivor not Victim, Stories Behind my Scars and the Path to Thriving takes the reader on my survivor journey while outlining all the elements needed to live a life of survivorship and thrivership and not fall victim to life circumstances.
At just two years old I was burned over 91 percent of my body. The doctors predicted I would have a grim chance of living and if I did, I would have no hands, feet, be blind, ventilator dependent and never live independently. Spoiler alert – I proved them all wrong! I take the reader on my journey of remembering the fire, the numerous surgeries (over 80!) and therapy to recovery, learning to find passion and belonging when I looked and felt ‘different,’ healing from post-traumatic stress and achieving thriving. While sharing my story I take the reader on the journey with me as demonstrate what it takes to build the Survivor Bridge, the bridge that can take them as well out of a life of victimhood and to survivorship and thrivership.
Book Publication: Coming SOON!
As seen in PEOPLE Magazine
“Identical Twin Left with Severe Burns After House Fire: ‘I Don’t Let My Injury Define Me’”
FULL 5 PAGE ARTICLE IN PRINTED VERSION
I am not ashamed of my story - mental health journey
Michelle Anderson shares her pandemic-induced mental health journey with colleagues to help beat stigma and show the importance of a supportive and accommodating work environment.
The Equine Chronicle
Michelle shares her story and her horse Mia’s accomplishment with Equine Chronicle!
Reframing What It Means To Be Strong
“At just 2 years old, I was burned over 91% of my body. If being burned to that severity taught me anything as a young child, it was to 'toughen up,' and that my emotional well-being didn't matter and that strength meant shutting out how I felt and pain, being 'tough,' and being able to go through severe pain and still 'function.''
Scars Are Not Halloween Costumes
““Your skin is so scary! How did you get it to look like that?
”Too bad it’s real,” I responded.”
Taking Off The Mask
“Hiding behind a mask meant hiding my pain, the severity of my trauma, and repressing my needs to keep the peace and blend into society. But one can only wear a mask for so long.”
Re-Authoring My Story
"As I re-wrote this narrative through my successes and healing, it also meant re-authoring the narrative in my story and the way I shared my story with others."
Am I Disabled?
“Yes, I have limitations and disabilities from my burn injury, but I prefer to look at my abilities and find accommodations to achieve all that I want in the world. Most importantly I am not what happened to me, my limitations, burns or scars, my work, I am an individual - Michelle - and that is enough all on its own.”
Experiencing Ableism as a Burn Survivor
“Discrimination can happen to anyone. I chose to focus on my abilities and what I need to achieve them rather than my limitations. Together we can help get rid of ableism and burnism and find ways for others to adapt and fit in the world we live in.”
“I Don’t See Your Scars”
“Microaggressions make it hard for one to be themselves by creating exclusion, judgement, assumptions. Rather than lifting one person up, they can drag one down and create wounds. By spreading awareness to different types of microaggressions, changing the way we speak to one another we can create a world and culture in which all can live life to their fullest potential.”
Horses Saved Me
“Freedom. Love. Trust. Empowered. Understood. Grounded. Peace. Joy. Safe. Present. This is what I felt my first time on a horse. I still feel these things every time I am with horses today. As a childhood burn survivor with scars on roughly 91% of my body, these are all of the things I struggled to feel in my day-to-day life growing up. And frankly, there are still times of struggle today. The scars on my physical body often caused me to feel judged, misunderstood, restricted, unsafe, and uneasy. When I found horses, that all changed.”
Me, a Monster?
"She stared at me and stated, “You look like you are from a horror movie.” It was the first day of burn camp for young burn survivors. She was a burn survivor camper. I was a burn survivor counselor."
Writing to Discover My Story
“When people ask “what happened?” they’re referring to my burn injury and what caused my scars. Often people act like I’m that one story, or that story is all that I am. They ask about the one day — always the same day — May 19, 1996.”
