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Third degree burns are not painful at first; the nerve damage is too extensive. A victim is not likely to forget his flirtation with flame, however. Lining every third degree burn are second and first degree burns, meaning that, though the most damaged areas lack sensation, they are sharply outlined in pain.

Bill Brooks was not afraid of fire, otherwise he wouldn't have attempted to stoke the blaze at a backyard barbeque with gasoline. But the fire wasn't afraid of him, either. The gasoline's vapors ignited, creating a fireball that all but engulfed Bill, leaving behind 70% TBSA burns.

Before he was burned, Bill Brooks' hopes for the future looked similar to those of most 30-year-olds; "my plans were to get focused and settle down and maybe start a family." Even as someone whose job it was to assess risks and plan ahead Bill worked for an insurance company he couldn't have foreseen the drastically different path his life would be taking. Instead of building his career and starting a family, he spent nearly two months in the Burn Unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital rebuilding his body and resetting his mind. While there, Bill underwent one escharotomy, two debridements, and three skin grafting procedures.

That's when he came to Spaulding. "I had to deal with a different body image and not being able to do everything I was able to do before." Bill's world was upside down, or at least flipped; he had to become left-handed, and learn to walk all over again.

Erin Abrams, RN, Bill's primary nurse, took care of the 2-3 hours a day extensive dressing changes he required. She said he was very quiet at first but very motivated. He had some tough times when his wounds would open up but he had a wonderful spirit and a great sense of humor.

"It was my nurses, Erin and Keri, who made my day-to-day activities a lot easier. Erin would keep my mind off my injuries with our conversations and humor we had together. Keri would walk in with a big smile during the night shift that made all my pain and aggravations go away!" According to Bill, his three rehab therapists, Sam, Jamie and Erin, kept him "focused, with hard work and laughter. I thank them for where I am today physically."

Hermine Lewis, CNA, his nursing assistant, helped him with his daily personal care routine: washing, showering, getting dressed. Because at first he seemed lonely, she would visit him in her spare time. The pair developed a special relationship; eventually she had him singing with her.

Bill would return to the Brigham Burn Clinic several times during his stay at Spaulding for follow-up care and monitoring of his burns. The smooth communication between the Burn Clinic and Spaulding's program helped Bill to progress in all aspects of his care without 'skipping a beat'. Burn Program Medical Director Dr. Jeffrey Schneider also had praise for Bill, and commented specifically on his "courage, determination and hard work" that led to his recovery. These specific qualities in combination with his physical therapist, Jamie Locke, enabled him to advance through a program of stretching, strengthening, and endurance activities until he was walking and climbing stairs independently.

"My outlook on life has changed very much. I am focused on one day at a time. A lot of my life in the future will be devoted to helping other burn survivors through the hard times and the milestones." Keeping with these plans, Bill attended the American Burn Association Annual Meeting in Boston this March, representing both Brigham and Women's and Spaulding's Burn Programs. He provided information to caregivers and burn survivors about rehab and recovery.

Bill returned home independent in all of his function. His immediate plans are only to continue to improve physically, and to explore his career options. About Spaulding's care, he is more definitive, stating, "the nursing staff and the therapy staff at Spaulding helped me to heal myself. Without them, I would not be where I am today."