The Power of Shared Experience After a Burn Injury

For burn survivors, healing doesn’t stop when the wounds close. The Arizona Burn Foundation focuses on what comes next… confidence, connection and community. Recently, we welcomed eight young adult burn survivors to Sedona, Arizona for Camp Thrive.

From yoga sessions and vision board workshops to shared meals and open conversations, Camp Thrive offers these survivors a chance to try new things and with other burn survivors in a close-knit group. This year, the group also explored the beauty of Sedona together and participated in memorable experiences including a special visit to a local glassblowing studio, The Melting Point.

Finding Connection Through Shared Experience

For Martin Cortez, Camp Thrive has become one of his favorite ABF programs.  He says the smaller group setting helps foster deeper connections among participants.

“It’s special because we’re all adults.” Martin said. “We’re able to connect with that one shared experience as burn survivors, and from there we connect on other parts of our lives.”

For Martin, who lives in Tucson, opportunities to reconnect with fellow survivors are especially meaningful.

“It means you’re not alone,” he said. “Whenever I go up to Phoenix, I have a blast. It’s super fun meeting new people and even old acquaintances.”

A Place to Simply Be Yourself

Nikolas Monize understands the power of that community. Nikolas, who grew up participating in ABF’s camp programs since he was burned at the age of 13, decided to return to Camp Thrive this year after spending several years away while living out of state.

“When I moved back, I knew I wanted to participate and get involved again,” Nikolas said.

For him, Camp Thrive provides something unique, a space where survivors can simply be themselves away from the pressures of everyday life.

“It felt like a little escape from reality,” he said. “You’re kind of able to remove the burdens and labels that we put on ourselves, particularly as burn victims. When you’re there, you can just be yourself with other people who have endured a similar experience.”

Surrounded by fellow survivors, he says there’s a powerful sense of acceptance.

“We’re just able to relax, socialize, and be who we are without the constant feeling that being burned might exclude us or make us separate from a group,” Nikolas said. “It’s the thing that brings everyone together.”

Thriving Together

At its heart, Camp Thrive reflects the Arizona Burn Foundation’s mission to help burn survivors move beyond survival and toward lives filled with confidence and connection. By bringing survivors together to share their stories and support one another, Camp Thrive reminds participants that they are never alone and that thriving after a burn injury is not only possible, but something they can achieve together.

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