Survivor Profile - Thomas Bernard

Stand Strong

Hi my name is Thomas Bernard. At the tender age of 12 years my life changed forever.

In the early hours of March 27, 1977 I was awakened by my dog to find the house engulfed in smoke along with the sounds of windows blowing out.  The crackling fire was fast moving from the lower level of our home and made the heat so intense my skin was melting. As I jumped out of my bed on to the floor- it was so red hot I could not stand. Try to imagine having to jump off the floor every two seconds! My brother and I had been sleeping on the 3rd floor of our Burnaby home and as we opened the window to escape the oxygen immediately brought the flames up the stairs like a moving tiger. I attempted to get out the window; which in older style homes moved up and down and the window now closed down on my back. I managed to crawl out the window and fall 12 feet to the ground. Moments later the firefighters arrived and picked me up and got me to an ambulance. The street was in total chaos with many strangers screaming and friends yelling.

I suffered 85 percent burns to my body that morning. I was in very bad shape and know today that it was a real miracle that I survived. I was a very athletic person;soccer player, amateur boxer, lacrosse player and because I was physically fit the skin grafts stuck to me like glue. As I was burned to 85 percent of my body there was not a lot of other areas to take skin grafts from so the majority of the grafts were taken from my head to apply to my legs, back etc. At one point Doctors wanted to amputate my legs, my father refused and today I walk. All my toes are amputated with no use of my left hand. I was in the Vancouver Burn Unit for over a year. They gave me the nickname "Tommy The Shark". One hundred plus operations, skin grafts, rehabilitation. After the Burn Unit I was sent to GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. I had to learn how to walk all over again, physical therapy, occupation therapy. Burns are the worst injury one can experience. I hate the hot weather because I can not sweat from my legs or back, only sweat from the non burned area where the live skin pores are. I can only describe the feeling as wrapping plastic around you and sitting in the sun. My injury suffered was 31 years ago but it is an ongoing recovery for me. I was in a wheelchair when I was younger but have pushed the limits to recovery that gives me the ability to walk short distances and function somewhat of a normal life. I'm about 70 percent mobile. For 12 years of my life I was an abled bodied person, the rest of my life, I had to learn to survive.

For many years I thought of myself as a burn victim but now understand that I'm a burn survivor. I have no issues with regards to my burns, never felt sorry for myself. I'm a very strong willed person that pulled me through. Not to mention the support of my mother and father plus brothers and family. I have learned so much from my burn injury in some ways I can say that I'm a better person because of what I have gone through. Let me also tell you first hand it was not easy given all the grafting in addition to the emotional roller-coaster ride that one experiences from this life changing injury. My face was not badly burned so one would have to look close to see that I was burned. I do not take my shirt or pants off in the summer. When people look at my injury they are more curious about how this happened to me. People will often stare and I'm more than happy to respond to them if asked.

Burn survivors are strong people - they are given many emotional, mental and physical gifts  from their experience. Life has many gifts for me! I have worked as a radio personality and credit manager over the last 17 years and have two beautiful daughters Kelsey 13 & Angela 20.

I never really had the opportunity to thank all the Staff/Doctors on FP4 at The Vancouver Burn Unit so I am sending a sincere thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are dedicated professionals who are very rare individuals. Your strong will/dedication pushed along my recovery and it was you, with your special talents that got me to raise my head at my darkest moments of my life. Also thanks to my Mum for being by my side when I needed her as well as a big thanks also to all the MEN AND WOMEN Firefighters.

Finally, I want to say hello to all the burn survivors and their families who have experienced more than any one can put into words. Your pain, struggles, recovery is one we all share. To be a burn survivor makes you a special person.  Your journey will be full of ups and downs but remember that your spirit will carry you through. Stand tall, your voice educates people daily regarding the severity of a burn. We all know burns come as a result of many forms. I say to anyone that reads this that burn education and prevention is just one part of the lesson. For those who are recently injured your struggles today will get easier as time moves on. Yes I know you feel it will never get better -  it's a slow process so be patient during the process. You are a special person so my wish is that you continue to be strong for the journey which is one you must experience to find the ending.

"Tommy the Shark"	Thomas Bernard and his brother John

« Back to Survivor Profiles