Chasing My Dreams

Barbara Kammerer Quayle

Description

Barbara Kammerer's dream job was being a teacher, impacting the lives of junior high kids so they could soar in life. Her dream became jeopardized after a fiery car crash left her with a severe burn injury. She found herself facing the public's reactions to her facial and body difference with constant stares and startled glances, intrusive questions and rude remarks. Her trauma began a life-long mission to develop skills to empower burn survivors and anyone with a facial difference to live successfully. In an age when the disabled and facially disfigured were shunned by societal norms, her advocacy paved the way for kids and adults to find their path back to life. Chasing My Dreams is the inspirational memoir of a gracious and beloved woman who quietly, but purposefully fought for those who needed to find their own voice.

Sujets

• Biography
• Autobiography

Informations

• Publié par: Stratton Press
• Date de parution: 28 juin 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781648954436
• Langue: English

Extrait

Chasing
My Dreams
 
From Traumatic Burns to Triumphant Survival
 
 
 
Barbara Kammerer Quayle
with   Mona Krueger
 
 

 
CHASING MY DREAMS
Copyright © 2021 Barbara Kammerer Quayle
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
Stratton Press Publishing
831 N Tatnall Street Suite M #188,
Wilmington, DE 19801
www.stratton-press.com
1-888-323-7009
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in the work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-64895-442-9
ISBN (Ebook): 978-1-64895-443-6
 
Printed in the United States of America

 
Dedication
 
 
I dedicate this book to every burn survivor and anyone with a facial or body difference throughout the world who is
 
Chasing Their Dreams.
 
I have been honored to know many of you and pray for you as you work toward a successful and productive life.
I also dedicate this book to Judy and Ken who are my forever anchors!
 
 
Contents
Gratitude
Prologue
 
1. Rocketing
2. Decisions
3. Tumbling
4. Eye-Opening
5. Revelations
6. Reentry
7. Faltering Steps
8. The Leap
9. Battles
10. Tools
11. Dreams
12. Inroads
13. The Umbrella
14. Awakenings
15. An Intertwining
 
A Few More Thoughts and Reflections
Mona Krueger Bio
 
 

 
 
Gratitude
I’m grateful to Mona Krueger, who encouraged me to tell my story and joined me as co-author on our ups and downs of the creative journey.
 
I am so thankful to have been treated in the USA at the University of California Irvine Burn Center, an American Burn Association verified burn center. I was blessed to have such skilled physicians from Dr. Robert Klein and Dr. Robert Bartlett, to Dr. David Furnas, Chief of the Department of Plastic Surgery who gave me back my life. The nursing staff, particularly Clara Rodriguez and Beth Lukina, lessened the pain and fear with their gentle and supportive care.
 
Great gratitude goes to the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, led by friend Amy Acton, who each year raises the bar for aftercare programs for survivors and families, and who provided the cover photo for Chasing My Dreams.
 
The gratitude never ends for my dear friend, Judy Phillips, who was my anchor through it all and beyond. I’m not sure I could have done it without her.
 
I am always grateful for my mother, Peggy, and my Aunt Genevieve who prayed for me constantly. Their stalwart support was such a blessing. I am humbled that God heard their prayers.
 
I am truly forever thankful that God gave me a precious husband like Ken, who has always encouraged and loved me, who quiets my concerns. My next license plate will read TG4KCQ (Thank God for Ken Carl Quayle)
 
And finally, thank you, Lord, for the remarkable people who I have been honored to call friends and colleagues through the years.
 
 
Prologue
Each year in the US, 650,000 Americans seek care for some kind of burn injury. Around 75,000 of them get admitted to a burn center for specialized treatment.
The causes vary, from scald injuries to cookstove grease fires, adding accelerants to backyard bonfires, car accidents, house fires, and suicide attempts, to name a few.
 
A severe burn injury is a life-altering injury. The physical and emotional recovery takes years. Everyone surrounding the burn survivor is affected as well.
 
This book is the story of my personal journey as a burn survivor, but in many ways, it is the story of all the beautiful souls who have become stronger, more compassionate, and whose stories are often compelling. We wear our scars with humility and strength. We want to be good citizens, fit in, and live life to the fullest. Our hope is that you will gain new insights and compassion for a group of brave folks.

 
1
Rocketing
My girlfriend’s surprise birthday party was in full swing when my boyfriend Murray and I drove into the upscale subdivision of Huntington Beach, California. The beautifully landscaped ranch-style home belonged to one of his clients.
Navigating the clay-tiled pathway to the front door, I breathed in the February Orange County air, a mix of crisp ocean breezes, and the delicate smell of wood burning in a neighbor’s fireplace. I lived for weekend gatherings with friends, a chance to meet new people and engage in stimulating conversations. Our hostess with golden-tanned arms, dressed in a sleeveless blue pantsuit, greeted us with enthusiasm. She ushered us into a kitchen abuzz with chatter from milling guests clustered around a buffet table. The house had a midcentury modern aesthetic. Rich woods and fabrics in neutrals and pastels conveyed a welcome feel.
We headed to the large granite island where my favorite Grgich Hills Estate chardonnay from Napa sat cooling in a silver bucket. We both accepted a glass from the guest of honor and looked around for familiar faces. I recognized a gentleman from a previous get-together, and we walked over his way to say hi.
“Barbara, Murray, so nice to see you again. How are you two doing?” asked Ben, a plastic surgeon who had used Murray’s CPA firm for years.
“We’re good,” said Murray, “though Barbara keeps dragging me from place to place, the social creature that she is.”
“Yeah right,” I said. “Don’t let him fool you. He loves a good party as much as I do.”
“True, but unlike you, I’m not the last guest hanging on into the wee hours. It’s that all-girls Catholic college you went to—made you hungry for male company,” Murray said.
“Really?” asked Ben.
“You are forgetting about the all- boys Catholic college right down the road. I never want for male attention,” I retorted.
We all shared a chuckle and talked about our travel plans to go to Wimbledon for the summer matches.
We eventually wandered off. Murray and I slowly made the rounds, introducing ourselves to new people as we went. After a long week of teaching English and journalism to junior high students, adult conversation lured me like a sale on high-end shoes. I was energized by the connections and the laughter.
At some point in the evening, Murray and I became separated between the kitchen and the family room, pulled into different conversations.
At a lull between chats, I glanced around to find him. I glimpsed his dark brown curls through the arch into the dining room. He stood by the paneled archway into the living room, lean and strong. With brown eyes and a year-round California tan, he appealed to me on many levels. We met on a blind date arranged by my good friends, Judy and Bobby, a few years ago. We shared a deep love of tennis and spent every weekend together. I thought we made a great couple. We both were happy in our individual careers, liked similar sports and outings, our mutual friends melded, and we always had something to talk about. The relationship was neither clingy nor conflicted. We could share about sensitive topics, agree or disagree, and had respect for our mutual need for time apart.
By 11:00 p.m., the party seemed to be winding down, and Murray caught my eye from across the room, mouthing his readiness to leave. When I pretended to ignore him, he walked over and interrupted my conversation with another partygoer.
“Barbara, I’ll go get the car. Meet you out front in five minutes.”
I watched him leave and rolled my eyes. “Sorry for that…What were you saying?” I asked. Not quite ready to give up the conversation, I continued chatting.
Murray popped his head back into the house with an exasperated look on his face minutes later, gesturing for me to speed it up. My new acquaintance graciously finished up her story. We said goodbye to our hosts and took our leave, promising to have another get-together soon.
 
***
 
The silver Nissan 260z sports car buzzed through the quiet neighborhood into busy Warner Avenue traffic on our way to Murray’s home. He was in love with his car. I think he felt like it bolstered his newly single-guy image after a recent divorce. Warner bustled with activity, the clubs and restaurants hosting revelers out for a good time on a Saturday night.
The couple glasses of chardonnay and the smooth ride of the car lulled me into sleepy euphoria. The black wool slacks, white silk blouse, and loosely woven sweater I had donned earlier helped to ward off the late-night chill. The smell of leather seats mixed with Murray’s favorite cologne added to my calm.
“You looked great tonight,” Murray said, his deep brown eyes straying fro