For Charlotte Brown, the journey to motherhood was one marked by unimaginable challenges and profound resilience. Ten years ago, a devastating accident left her with severe burns covering over 30 percent of her body.
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However, this Mother's Day, Mrs Brown is celebrating her first as a mother after giving birth to her precious daughter Edith at Mater Mothers' Private Brisbane on March 28.
A decade earlier, the life of Mrs Brown and her husband Andrew were forever altered when a horrific incident involving a tabletop ethanol burner at a friend's birthday party left them both with severe burns.
Mrs Brown in the hospital following the incident (Photo supplied)
The accident inflicted profound third-degree burns on the young couple, ushering in a long and painful journey of rehabilitation. Yet, through it all, they never abandoned their dream of one day becoming parents.
“I was just 22 when the accident happened and was put in an induced coma for five-and-a-half weeks, which saw most of my body, apart from my legs, grafted with unburnt skin,” said Mrs Brown.
“After suffering a burns trauma it truly takes a massive amount of time and work to get your life back and really thrive, not just survive.”
After the accident, Mrs Brown spent three months recovering at the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital, followed by an additional two years of rehabilitation, relearning how to breathe, walk, and talk independently.
Now 32 years old, Mrs Brown expressed deep gratitude to the medical team at Mater Mothers' Hospital, especially her obstetrician Dr Robyn Aldridge, who provided invaluable guidance throughout her pregnancy journey and Edith's birth.
Photo credit: Mater Mothers' Private Brisbane/Google Maps
“The heat of the Brisbane summer really affected me with so much scarring because I can’t thermoregulate my body properly.
“There was a small amount of scarring on my belly that got very tight towards the end of my pregnancy. I had to monitor everything very closely.”
Mrs Brown hopes her journey can serve as inspiration for other women living with scars and burns, demonstrating that it is entirely possible to lead a joyful, healthy life and accomplish deeply personal goals like starting a family despite the challenges.
She expressed how her husband Andrew has been an unwavering source of support throughout every stage, steadfastly by her side even though he too suffered significant burns over much of his body in the same accident. Their partnership and mutual understanding helped carry them through the arduous recovery process.
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Whilst undergoing treatment as patients themselves, the couple founded a burns support group and non-profit organisation called Burnslife under the RBWH Foundation. This initiative aims to bring together burn survivors, their caregivers, and families to address the psychosocial aspects of rehabilitation for those enduring similar traumatic injuries.
Moreover, Mrs Brown serves as the co-chair of the Australia New Zealand Burns Association (ANZBA) Consumer Advisory Group. She also dedicates her efforts to providing support and guidance to young women affected by burns and scarring through various social media platforms.
Published 24-May-2024
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