Posted: 11/9/2016
Sixth annual event supports patients, family
Discussing the events that resulted in her 2011 burn injury isn’t something Lan Hoang routinely does, but during Parkland Health & Hospital System’s annual retreat for adult burn survivors she is surrounded by individuals who understand her journey.
For Hoang, attending her first retreat in 2012 gave her a better understanding of the issues, difficulties and challenges burn survivors face. The retreat, she said, offered help, hope and strategies for recovery.
“It was a life changing event for me, so I attended my second retreat in 2014,” Hoang said. “It was my reflection points of life. It helped me realize that I was not alone and empowered me to move forward.”
Since 2010, staff of Parkland’s Burn Center has hosted a weekend retreat for adult burn survivors. This year’s event will be held Nov. 11-13 at Selah Ranch in Talco, east of Dallas. The three-day retreat is designed to help survivors and their significant others and/or support teams cope with burn injuries. Along with group discussions, attendees are encouraged to participate in relaxing social activities, according to Stephanie Campbell, RN, Parkland’s Burn Program Manager.
“We’re hosting a two-hour painting lesson that will give everyone a chance to have fun, talk and do something creative at the same time,” Campbell said. “All retreat activities are designed to provide a safe place for survivors to share their experiences. There is something magical that happens when a burn survivor connects with another burn survivor and realizes that they are not alone in their recovery.”
To that end, a Parkland psychologist experienced in working with burn patients, Steven Krebaum, PhD, will lead sessions focused on social skills for burn survivors. Topics may include: practical tools to understand and improve body image and coping with potential challenges in social interaction after burn injury. Group sessions are interactive and tailored to burn survivors and their family members. In addition, there is a session designed solely for spouses/support people who are attending to help them share experiences about what it’s like to support someone through a severe burn injury.
“The goal of the retreat is to address psychosocial adjustment and social reintegration for burn survivors and their families,” said Dr. Krebaum, Psychology Director for the Consult Liaison Psychiatry Service at Parkland and a clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “Physical traumas such as burn injury, with associated pain and long-term treatment, pose significant challenges. However, many burn survivors achieve a satisfying quality of life and positive adjustment.”
“I am looking forward to attending the retreat this year,” Hoang added. “Again, it will be my opportunity to support and to receive support, and maybe I will be able to hear and to share more recovery strategies, as well as hope for the future.”
Parkland was recently re-verified as an adult and pediatric burn center by the American Burn Association and the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons. The achievement recognizes Parkland’s dedication and commitment to providing high quality burn care to patients. Parkland has been a verified burn center since 1996 and is the only verified burn center in North Texas.
Established in 1962, the Parkland Burn Center is the second largest civilian burn center in the nation, providing care to more than 2,200 patients annually. Serving North Texas and surrounding areas, this comprehensive burn center is one of only 70 verified burn centers in North America and provides all services from emergency treatment to intensive care to rehabilitation and outpatient follow-up care.
For information about Parkland services, please visit www.parklandhospital.com.