Camp Beyond the Scars Provides Joy and Healing For Young Burn Victims

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The Burn Institute's Camp Beyond the Scars

The Burn Institute provides support and assistance to both children and adults who have suffered burn injuries.  One of the programs that they host is "Camp Beyond the Scars", a summer camp for children held in the beach community of San Diego, California.  Local firefighters and nurses volunteer their time to be camp counselers each year, and the children are able to participate in many fun summertime activities, including a trip to the Knotts Soak City water park.

Marius' Story

Marius, a ten year old camper who attended Camp Beyond the Scars for the first time this year says, "This camp is fun.  It is my first year, and there are a lot of nice people."  Marius sustained burns over 75% percent of his body in a tragic accident that killed his parents, when a boiler exploded in their home in a small Romanian village.  In addition to the burns, Marius lost all of his fingers in the accident.  Eventually, he came to the United States and was adopted by a family in Lakeside, California, and recently he underwent surgery to attach his big toe to his hand so that he would have a working thumb. 

Despite the tragedy and hardships he has faced, Marius maintains a positive attitude and looks forward to his next surgery, which will involve surgically removing his other big toe and attaching it to his other hand.  His future will be filled with many other surgeries like this, and a fund has been set up to help defray the costs of the operations.  More information on how to contribute to this fund can be found at www.teammarius.org.

Memo's Story

Memo Vega is a leader in training and a former camper at Camp Beyond the Scars.  Memo was once a troubled youth who sustained second and third degree burns on his legs when a friend threw gasoline on them.  Memo explains that the Burn Institute and Camp Beyond the Scars turned his life around, saying, "When I was young, I got got burned.  I was a pretty bad kid.  I was like, 'No one is going to help me.  I'm alone in the hospital.'  Then I met Dana and all these campers, and they said, 'You know what, come to this camp.  Check it out.  Burn Institute.  You'll love it.'  I came and they completely turned my life, flipped it over.  I graduated high school.  I'm in college right now."  Once unable to use his legs, Memo can now do backflips, and he has dedicated himself to helping young children like Marius.

How to Become Involved With the Burn Institute

This year's Camp Beyond the Scars hosted 60 campers from Southern California and 3 campers from other states.  If you know of a child who would benefit from this camp or if you would like to donate to the Burn Institute to help with Camp Beyond the Scars and the multitude of other programs they provide adult and juvenile burn victims, please visit www.burninstitute.org.

Related Videos

For FDNNTV.com's videos on other Burn Institute events and fundraisers, click below.

Burn Institute's Winter Camp Beyond the Scars

Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge

Burn Run Fire Truck Parade