My Reason Why (1)

My name is Tonya and I am known as @burnedbeauty2018. I am a severe burn survivor and thriver and recently started a charity named Burned Beauty, Inc. in hopes of providing support, products and services to other burn survivors as they transition into their “new normal”. Just as a sidebar, I really dislike that term,

I Feel Like I’m Dying (7)

I continue to lay in my bed at the Rehabilitation Center feeling terribly sick. With the staff thinking I was just trying to avoid having my challenging therapy sessions. My scalp itched terribly. I still couldn’t scratch it myself. It was torture on top of illness. I was scheduled for transport to the hospital that

Learning to Function Again (6)

So there we were. In the physical rehabilitation center, knowing the next 30 days were likely to be the most challenging of my life. I knew because of the brief tests by the Physical Therapists at the Burn Unit. Just sitting up for more than a few minutes was excruciating. Never even mind standing while

Hospital Recovery (5)

The burn unit is intense. Things move quickly. During the first week after awakening I was just allowed to recover and acclimate to my surroundings My catheters were removed. I’m not sure that’s what you call the one that handled #2. Yes, your bodily functions continue during your coma. When you first awaken you’re told

Awakenings (4)

Something was changing in the darkness. There was light, but I wasn’t sure in which direction. My dreams started to brighten. It seemed that it was daylight and I believe it had been night for the two months prior. I was wearing shorts. Riding in a convertible. Hair up. Relaxed. I was being allowed to

The Darkness (3)

It’s hard to describe the two months that followed. I only know now that’s how long the coma was. I have no conscious memories after getting in the ambulance, except briefly opening my eyes at the first hospital as I was being intubated. I saw the light and thought “stay away from that” and then

Self Love & Body Positivity – My Day Today – A sidebar

Today was one of the best days of my life. I found my purpose. I found the thing I love so much that I’ll never work another day in my life! I recorded a documentary. Yes, burned little me! It was a full work day to create 8 minutes of content for my episode of

The Flames Are Extinguished!…Now What? (2)

After hearing my husband tell me that he had me, my mind immediately switched from accepting my fate to finding a way to survive As soon as I no longer felt the flames dancing on my back, at least a foot high, I jumped up from the ground. Literally JUMPED. I ran inside to check