From burns unit to boardroom

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7547.956

BMJ 2006;332:956-959 (22 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7547.956

Practice

Patient's journey

From burns unit to boardroom

James Partridge, chief executive

Changing Faces, London WC1E 6JN jamesp@changingfaces.org.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

"It'll never happen to me." Burns? I had never given them athought. Facial disfigurement? Never heard of it, except inwar films. Frightening, though.

Born in the early 1950s, privately educated, emerging in late1970 as an 18 year old with reasonable prospects, I was a carefreeyouth with high ambitions heading for a prestigious university.I took my looks for granted, traded on them, even saw them asthe key to my future.

My life changed in a split second of bad judgment. I failedto see a bend in the road, the Land Rover toppled over, therewas skidding and sparks, and the petrol tank exploded. I thoughtI was just singed. Lily Lewis, a former nurse travelling inthe car behind, knew better. Thirty five years later, I saluteher; she saved me.

I had nearly 40% severe burns. My face was swollen to threetimes . . . [Full text of this article]