Hi, you are “face to face with Shell”.
If you don’t know, I was burned in a gas explosion when I was thirteen years old, whilst on my first holiday abroad to Spain. I received fifty percent burns; from first through to fourth degree burns. My right hand was very badly burned (fourth degree) and I lost parts of my fingers and my hand now looks like a “claw” (I find this is the best way to describe it).
Please click on the link below if you would like to know my full story:
Please watch this video and read on for more information:
My right hand took many months to heal and I had to have many operations on it; whereby I was left with a “functioning hand”, as my medical team described it.
This what my hand looks like now (2019).
I was VERY shocked when my hand came out of the bandages, no one had described to me what it was going to look like. Eventually, I did accept that this was now my hand…there was nothing I could do about it.
I used to hide my hand, I didn’t want anyone seeing it at first. I felt that people had enough to look at (i.e., my face) I didn’t want them staring at my hand as well.
Please click on the link below if you want to know about the first time that I seen my hand and face:
THE FIRST TIME SEEING MY FACE/HAND
At first I couldn’t use my hand, as it was far too painful; even picking up a tissue was sore. I had to “shield” it from people. If I was in a crowd, for example, out shopping; I had to be very careful that people did not bump into me or bump my hand (I had blisters on my arms that kept appearing for a good few months after I was burned, which were also very painful).
My hand from another angle (2019).
I had to re-learn how to do things with my “new hand”. This was hard and at first, I learned to do a lot of things one-handed. I was right handed before I was burned and it was my right hand that was affected the most.
Your body does adapt and eventually I was managing to do tasks. I still needed help with a lot of things and I would get frustrated but I learned to do things “my way”.
Another angle (2019).
To this day, I still need help with certain tasks (especially if it is a small, intricate task) or if a heavy object is needing to be moved or lifted; I do not have the strength or grip. My hand does not open up wide enough to grip certain objects; I cannot manage to carry larger glasses with my hand, therefore, they have to be carried one at a time or I “grip” them between my forearm and upper arm. OK, it maybe takes a little longer but I get there and you will too.
During my career in the NHS; one of the posts I held was a Medical Secretary to a Consultant Psychiatrist; I had learned to type one-handed. I was maybe not as fast as the other Secretaries but I wasn’t far behind them. My right hand helps out now; well, my middle finger does; it taps the numbers keys and the return key, I don’t want it feeling left out…lol.
If you are going through something similar, I am sorry that you are experiencing this. If you are at the start of your journey, it will get better, you will heal, and you will learn how to do things “YOUR WAY”.
Stay strong and we’ll chat soon.