Although this site is in memory of Ellen, she perished from her battle with cancer. On the other hand, I have received third degree burns from my waste downward. Ellen always did everything humanly possibly to make me feel equal to my peers and comfortable with whom I am.  As a child, Ellen told me about the Burns Camp and I thought that it sounded interesting, but at the time I was too afraid and embarrassed with whom I was. I did not see what others saw.

            For this reason and many others, I would encourage anyone who is viewing my site to donate to this life changing cause. The burn center has a Burns Camp that can enable children to accept who they are and not be ashamed of what others may see on the surface.  I wasted 17 years of my life feeling lonely.  No one should have to live in fear. The fear of not being accepting may be something that everyone experiences, but other feelings of being unwanted, unworthy, and alone are insufferable.  Then, after my senior year in high school, I got the courage to face one of my greatest fears and I wore a pair shorts outside of my home.

            The Burns Camp helps children to cope with these emotions by providing counselors trained in dealing with burn victims. Children are able to canoe, swim, horseback ride, craft, fish, attend nature hikes, and hang out with others who share their common injury.