Hello everyone,

As promised I am writing this blog upon my return from Vancouver, BC and World Burn Congress. The trip out there from Atlanta was an adventure in itself. I was "lucky" enough to be one of the ones chosen for a more thorough search at the airport. Nothing like being frisked at 4am. We arrived in Vancouver at noon. There were 5 of us total from the Atlanta-Augusta area. I was scalded by hot water, Dennis was burned in a house fire and Kyle was struck by lightening. Dana is a social worker and Vennessa is the office manager of the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation. We stayed at the Westin Bayshore Hotel-it was gorgeous. There were over 700 attendees with 235 being first time attendees. We had three main speakers. Vivian Pellas who, along with her husband Carlos were burned in a plane crash in Nicaragua in 1989. She went on to raise money to build the first burn hospital for children in Nicaragua. The Asociacion Pro ninos Quemados de Nicaragua. George Pessotti, who was burned in a house fire and was one of the executive directors for the Phoenix Society www.phoenix-society.org and Kim Phuc. Kim was the little girl from the famous Tme Magazine photo of children running from a villiage that had been hit with napalm. There were all inspirational. Mrs. pellas has asked me to come to Nicaragua to teach burn scar massage therapy to her staff. I am very excited about this unique opportuinity to help burn survivors in other countries. Next years World Burn Congress will be held in Raleigh, NC. I cant wait. It is always an exciting time. While in Vanouver I did cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which was a feat for me considering I am terrified of heights. You can view the amazing site at www.capbridge.com. If you know any burn survivor please pass on the Phoenix-Society information to them. Jen