Northwest Burn Foundation

    Northwest Burn
    Foundation:

    1515 NW 52nd St.
    Suite A
    Seattle, WA 98107

    Phone:
    206-789-6838

    Toll Free:
    1-888-NOBURNS
    1-888-662-8767

How We Help

LISA'S STORY ABOUT THE NORTHWEST BURN FOUNDATION'S EMERGENCY HOUSING APARTMENTS

Mike, a volunteer firefighter in Sequim, Washington, was severely burned in a horrible accident in mid-February. He was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, 120 miles away. With burns over 55% of his body, he would endure several surgeries and weeks of recovery.

His wife, Lisa, faced her own challenges. How long would Mike be in the hospital? Where would their three children stay while Lisa was helping Mike recover? If Lisa stayed in a hotel in Seattle, how would they pay for the bills?

Thanks to the Northwest Burn Foundation, Lisa didn't have to worry about hotel bills. Lisa stayed in a Northwest Burn Foundation emergency housing apartment at no cost. She was able to be at Mike's side every day, and have a place to sleep at night. After 75 days at Harborview, Mike and Lisa finally went home. Lisa wrote us a letter saying:

" 'Thank you' seems so inadequate to express my deep appreciation to the Northwest Burn Foundation for providing the apartment to me...My husband, Mike, was burned over 55% of his body on February 16, airlifted to Harborview, and was in ICU for 52 days. He was discharged on May 2, 75 days after the accident. We have three sons who were sent to California (to stay with relatives) five days after the accident. We were just reunited with them on May 7, ten weeks later. The apartment became available to me on February 19 and it was a godsend. I spent every day, all day at my sweet husband's side. I would arrive at the hospital at 7 a.m. and would stay with him until 10 or 11. I was so fortunate to be walking distance from Harborview Medical Center. The apartment was very comfortable. I was always at ease coming and going. I always felt safe and secure.It's an absolutely wonderful service that you've provided and I will be forever grateful because it took that one stressful decision - how to be there for my husband without going bankrupt with hotel bills - off my shoulders. I can't express my thanks, our thanks, enough. The Northwest Burn Foundation is truly a wonderful organization - angels in the face of tragedy."

On September 23, 2002 Lisa wrote us this update:

"My family has been home in Sequim, together since the middle of May, something I wasn't sure would ever be a reality for us on 2/16. Mike and I celebrated his 7 month "re-birthday" on Sept. 16, 2002. Thank God he is doing very well. I find myself thinking about our time in Seattle often. Mike endured so much physically and mentally, such a brave man--and I would have suffered a million times more stress than I did had it not been for the NWBF's generosity and TLC....I don't know that I would have survived those many months without the apartment. I know I would not have been able to be by Mike's side 1/10 of what I was if I had to travel back and forth, it would have been hard on me mentally and physically, but especially it would have been almost financially impossible. Your service was the light at the beginning of my very long, scary tunnel."

Lisa wrote us this update a year after Mike's injury:

"Mike is amazing...he's doing so well. He's completely off meds, has been for about 5 months, although he still takes an anti-itch med for his skin. He's back volunteering at our local fire station, making plans to return to the US Forest Service in May, where he will resume his position on a Heli-tack firefighting team, rapelling out of helicopters to fight forest fires. His mental and emotional spirit have come through this tragedy with flying colors. He's a better man than he was a year ago, appreciating life, family, friends..he makes the most of each day. We talk about those 75 days in Seattle quite often. I have pictures from the hospital and I have journals that I wrote in from Day 1 that Mike's read and he's amazed at what he went through and where he is today. He's so thankful that the NWBF was there for me so that I could be there for him. We are forever grateful for you and hope we can be involved w/ the NWBF somehow in the future. You are truly Angels... thanks again!"