Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors

06/26/2026

In this Girls with Grafts episode, Rachel sits down with Damon Spring to talk about the call to serve, the day that changed everything, and the long road of recovery that followed. 🚒

During his rookie year as a volunteer firefighter, Damon was caught in the Sheep Creek Fire, a wildfire burnover sparked by a helicopter crash on August 18, 2018. Now eight years into his career and a Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter, Damon reflects on the hardest years of his journey and the people who helped him through them. ❤️ He's turned that experience into Scar Warriors, a community offering support and encouragement to fellow survivors. Damon's story reminds us that purpose can grow even from the hardest chapters.

Listen on Apple Podcasts ➡️ https://hubs.ly/Q04lDn7P0
Listen on Spotify ➡️ https://hubs.ly/Q04lD43H0
Watch on YouTube ➡️ https://hubs.ly/Q04lDc5g0

06/25/2026

Summer is full of sunshine, cookouts, and time on the water—but it can also bring increased risks for burn injuries. ☀️ Our Summer Safety resource shares simple tips to help you and your loved ones stay safe while grilling, boating, camping, and spending time outdoors: https://hubs.ly/Q04mbwj30

Summertime welcomes the promise of longer sunshine days, plenty of outdoor activities, vacations, barbeques, and picnics – but summer also brings an increased risk of burn injuries due to campfires, fireworks, and outdoor cooking.

06/24/2026

Congratulations to Rob Feeney on receiving the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) James Shannon Advocacy Medal! 🎉 This medal recognizes those who make significant contributions to mitigating fire loss through advocacy.

Rob is a Station Nightclub fire survivor, Phoenix Advocate, and dedicated Phoenix Society volunteer who has spent more than 20 years turning his lived experience into powerful advocacy for fire safety. Through his work with Common Voices and his ongoing commitment to sharing his story, Rob has helped advance important conversations and policy changes around fire sprinklers and prevention—work that helps protect lives and prevent future tragedies.

We are honored to celebrate Rob and grateful for the impact he continues to make in the burn survivor and fire safety communities. Congratulations, Rob! ❤️

06/23/2026

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with Abby Horton, MS, CCLS, a Certified Child Life Specialist with over a decade of experience supporting children and families through burn injuries and medical trauma. Abby's work spans pediatric burn care, inpatient rehabilitation, and critical care, and she brings that depth of experience to a conversation about one of the challenges families navigating a burn injury often face: how to prepare children for a visit to the burn center. 🏥

Drawing on her recent article in Journey Magazine, "Preparing Siblings and Children of Burn Survivors for a Burn Center Visit," Abby walks through why giving children a sense of choice and control matters so much, how caregivers can tell whether a child is ready to visit, and age-appropriate ways to talk about burn injuries and hospitalization. 🗣️ She also speaks candidly about the sibling experience—the fear, confusion, and guilt that can surface—along with the behavioral changes caregivers might see at home, from regression to withdrawal, and how to respond with patience rather than panic.

Whether you're a parent, a sibling, or someone who simply wants to better support a family going through this, Abby offers grounded, compassionate guidance for helping the youngest members of a burn survivor's circle feel seen, prepared, and cared for. ❤️



🔗 Looking for links? Check out our show’s description on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

06/22/2026

Burn recovery often involves more than medical care. For many survivors and families, questions about personal injury, disability benefits, workers’ compensation, and long-term support can feel overwhelming.

Phoenix Society recently introduced the Phoenix Legal Referral Line, designed to help connect burn survivors and their loved ones with attorneys experienced with burn injury cases. Learn more and get connected: https://hubs.ly/Q04kmf3F0

Learn how the Phoenix Legal Referral Line connects burn survivors and caregivers with experienced attorneys for burn injury, disability, and workers’ compensation cases. Get early legal guidance to protect your rights and support your recovery.

06/21/2026

Our next Special Topic Virtual Support Group is TOMORROW. ⏰ We’ll be exploring Coming Home to Your Heart: Reconnecting with Yourself After Burn Trauma. This session will create space for gentle, trauma-informed conversation about self-compassion, inner safety, grounding, and reconnecting with yourself at your own pace.

Join us on June 22 at 7 PM EST for a supportive discussion centered on reflection, connection, and making room for healing without pressure or expectation. 💙 You do not need to have the right words, share your story, or arrive feeling “ready”—you are welcome to take part in whatever way feels safest for you.

No matter where you are in your journey, you are welcome to join us: https://hubs.ly/Q04kklyc0

06/20/2026

In a recent Girls with Grafts episode, Rachel and Amber sat down with Dr. Craig Crandall to dig into the science of heat and why it hits so differently for burn survivors. ☀️

Dr. Crandall is a Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and has spent over 20 years studying the long-term thermoregulatory and cardiovascular effects of severe burn injuries, with continuous NIH funding throughout.

Together, they explore how Dr. Crandall first came to burn research, what actually happens in the body during heat stress after a burn injury, and why heat tolerance can look so different from survivor to survivor. They also walk through the Burn Survivor Heat Risk Calculator—breaking down what each input means and why it matters, and cover cooling strategies, heart rate changes, and the role hydration plays in keeping your body regulated. 🧊

Listen on Apple Podcasts ➡️ https://hubs.ly/Q04kPGcn0
Listen on Spotify ➡️ https://hubs.ly/Q04kL5lC0
Watch on YouTube ➡️ https://hubs.ly/Q04kQFlQ0

06/18/2026

Living with a facial burn injury can come with unique experiences, questions, and emotions — and you don’t have to navigate them alone. 💙

Join our next Community Circle: Facial Burns on July 8 at 7 PM EST for a safe, welcoming space to connect with others who understand. This gathering will be moderated by Jill Sproul, MS, RN, and Liliana Palacios and will offer an opportunity to share, listen, learn, and build community with fellow burn survivors.

Sign up here: https://hubs.ly/Q04kkH850

06/17/2026

More moments from the Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation’s “Lite Up the Nite” event! 🌟

We’re grateful for every opportunity to come together with firefighters, burn care professionals, survivors, families, and supporters who are dedicated to strengthening the burn community. Thank you again to the Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation for your continued generosity and partnership! ❤️

06/16/2026

When Damon Spring joined his local volunteer fire department, he was answering a call to serve his community. 🚒 During his rookie year, that calling changed his life forever. On August 18, 2018, Damon was caught in a wildfire burnover sparked by a helicopter crash, an event that would come to be known as the Sheep Creek Fire.

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Damon to talk about what drew him to firefighting, the day everything changed, and the long road of physical and emotional recovery that followed. Damon opens up about the hardest stretch of his journey—years two through five post-injury—and the support that carried him through it.

Now eight years into his firefighting career and a Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter, Damon is turning his experience into hope for others. ❤️ He recently launched Scar Warriors, a social media community where he shares his story and offers encouragement to fellow survivors and anyone struggling with their mental health.



🔗 Looking for links? Check out our show’s description on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!