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Girls with Grafts

Girls with Grafts

By: Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors
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Girls with Grafts is a podcast hosted by Amber Wilcox and Rachel Kudlak, Burn Survivors, and supporters of the nonprofit, Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. The Girls with Grafts podcast is for burn survivors, caregivers, hospital staff, and corporate partners in the burn community. Hear in-depth conversations about burn survivor stories, gain resources for managing a burn injury, hear up-to-date information about Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors community news, and listen in on burn prevention and advocacy information.

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Episodes
  • Face Equality Week: Advocating for Authentic Representation in Media with Charlene Pell

    Face Equality Week: Advocating for Authentic Representation in Media with Charlene Pell
    May 13 2025
    In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with Charlene Pell, a burn survivor and the founder of Facing Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for individuals with visible differences. ✨ Charlene shares her journey, from surviving a burn injury to advocating for face equality.Rachel and Charlene also dive into Face Equality Week, this year’s theme, “My Face is a Masterpiece,” and why shifting the perception of beauty and identity is so important. 🫶 They discuss the representation of survivors in the media, the challenges of living with a visible difference, and the importance of advocacy. This episode celebrates resilience and the beauty of every survivor! ⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlsWithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors! #BurnSurvivor #Podcast #SurvivorPodcast #BurnSurvivorStories #FaceEqualityWeek #IFEW #FEW Meet Our Guest Award-winning author, Charlene Pell is the founder and executive director of Facing Forward, a 501©3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals with congenital or acquired facial or physical differences contend with staring, improve control of social interactions, and communicate confidently. Thirty years ago, Pell survived a catastrophic plane crash that burned 64 percent of her body, severely injuring her face and hands. She shares her compelling story of physically and emotionally surviving, recovering, and resurrecting her identity in her new book, In This Altered Body: A Survivor’s Story of Resilience and Love.As a result of her disfigurement and the lack of psychosocial resources available to her during her recovery, Pell researched and created programs and resources to help herself and others adjust to their changed appearance and circumstances. Since 1998, she’s shared her insights internationally as a keynote speaker at conferences for burn survivors and healthcare professionals. She created a nationwide program titled “What to Do When People Stare: A Workshop to Teach Individuals with Disfiguring Conditions to Contend with Staring and Improve Control of Social Interactions.” Her work has been published in Skin, Psychology Today, the American Burn Association’s Journal of Burn Care & Research, and other periodicals.Before her accident, Pell was vice president of communications for one of the most prominent design centers in the United States, the Design Center of the Americas. She managed and administered its marketing strategy and created extensive public relations programs in cooperation with Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Interior Design, and many other publications. Pell has a master’s in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, with her husband. Links Purchase and read Charlene’s book “In This Altered Body: A Survivor’s Story of Resilience and Love:” https://www.amazon.com/This-Altered-Body-Survivors-Resilience-ebook/dp/B0CVF7X9JTLearn more about Face Equality Week: https://faceequalityinternational.org/about-fei/international-face-equality-week/Download the “Visible Difference & Disfigurement in the Arts” position paper: https://resources.phoenix-society.org/visible-difference-disfigurement-in-the-arts Sign the petition ‘Tell Hollywood Visible Difference Doesn’t Equal Evil!’ here: https://www.change.org/p/tell-hollywood-visible-difference-doesn-t-equal-evilDownload the 2024 State of the Survivor Report: https://resources.phoenix-society.org/2024-state-of-the-survivor-report Learn more about Phoenix World Burn Congress 2025: https://events.phoenix-society.org/event/PWBC2025/summary Learn more about the “I Am Not Your Villain” campaign: https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/i-am-not-your-villian/ Contact Charlene: charlene@facingforwardinc.orgRead Charlene’s “Hidden From View: Women With Facial Differences in the Media” here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/disability-is-diversity/202303/hidden-from-view-women-with-facial-differences-in-the-media Learn more about Facing Forward: https://facingforwardinc.org/ Podcast Sponsor Today’s podcast is powered by our new Phoenix Partner, Kerecis! From a small town in northwest Iceland, Kerecis develops, manufactures, and sells patented fish-skin soft tissue regeneration products. Kerecis GraftGuide is their intact fish-skin especially developed for the management of burn wounds.Kerecis fish-skin grafts contain fat, protein, elastin, glycans and other natural skin elements and are supplied in multiple shapes, variants and sizes. Learn more about Kerecis by checking out their website www.kerecis.com or reach out to info@kerecis.com if you are interested in using our products.Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • From Violence to Resilience: Davina’s Journey of Strength & Purpose

    From Violence to Resilience: Davina’s Journey of Strength & Purpose
    May 5 2025

    Trigger warning: In this episode of Girls with Grafts, we have an important and heartfelt discussion about domestic violence, including personal experiences and the journey to healing. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline by visiting www.thehotline.org, calling 800-799-7233, or texting BEGIN to 88788.

    In this deeply moving episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel and Amber sit down with Davina Licon, a survivor of an acid attack. With vulnerability and courage, Davina shares the story of her attack and the emotional and physical aftermath that has followed. 💛

    Through it all, she has found power in resilience and strength in physical activity. As a bodybuilder, she shares how fitness has impacted her journey and offers empowering tips for other survivors looking to reclaim their strength. 💪 Davina also opens up about her journey with faith and believing everything happens for a greater purpose.

    This episode is a raw and inspiring testament to the power of burn survivors.

    ⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlsWithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

    #BurnSurvivor #Podcast #SurvivorPodcast #BurnSurvivorStories #Survivor #Strength

    Meet Our Guest

    Davina Licon is an acid attack survivor as well as a bodybuilder. Being a burn survivor Davina aims to raise awareness of acid attacks and domestic violence by shedding light for survivors. She wants people to understand that acid attacks and domestic violence are more common than we think and it can happen to anyone. Along with being a bodybuilder she hopes to inspire and motivate others to become a better, healthier version of themselves. If she can do it with more than 30% burns anyone can. There is no excuse.

    Links
    • Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org.
    • Visit the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: https://nrcdv.org.
    • Join Phoenix Society’s Virtual Support Group: https://www.phoenix-society.org/what-we-do/virtual-support-group.
    • Explore Phoenix Society’s support services: https://resources.phoenix-society.org/tools-for-burn-survivors-and-caregivers.
    • Learn more about your legal rights after a burn injury: https://www.phoenix-society.org/resources/legal-action-do-i-have-a-case.
    • Learn more about OneLove: https://www.joinonelove.org.

    Podcast Sponsor

    Today’s podcast is powered by the Donaldson Foundation! Led by a board comprised of employee volunteers, the mission of the Donaldson Foundation is to positively impact our communities by supporting education. We’re honored to have the Donaldson Foundation as a long-standing Phoenix Society Partner.


    Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

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    52 mins
  • Celebrating National Volunteer Week: Jeanette Johnson’s Journey of Healing and Helping

    Celebrating National Volunteer Week: Jeanette Johnson’s Journey of Healing and Helping
    Apr 22 2025

    In honor of National Volunteer Week, we're joined by Jeanette Johnson - burn survivor, Phoenix Society volunteer, and a voice of hope and healing. 🤝 In this heartfelt episode, Jeanette shares her journey of recovery over the past five years and how finding connection through Phoenix Society's Virtual Support Group changed everything.

    She opens up about the friendships she's formed, including with our co-host Ambe and the community that has grown from a virtual space into a true support system. ✨ Jeanette also shares her experience as a Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter, including her very first in-person visit just last week.

    We dive into what it means to build community in a virtual world, the importance of getting connected early in recovery, and how volunteers like Jeanette are making a lasting impact. A heartfelt thank you to Jeanette for giving back as a volunteer - your compassion, time, and support are helping others feel seen, heard, and never alone on their healing journeys! 💛

    ⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlsWithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

    #BurnSurvivor #Podcast #SurvivorPodcast #BurnSurvivorStories #NationalVolunteerWeek #NVW #Volunteer #PhoenixSOAR #PeerSupport

    Meet Our Guest

    Jeanette Johnson's journey as a burn survivor and her dedication to peer support have made her an integral part of the Phoenix Society community. Jeanette's story began on June 6, 2020, when she was burned in a smoldering firepit while on vacation in Oklahoma during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her experience in the Burn ICU during such an isolating time helped her realize the value of peer support—such as a smile, a listening ear, or a shared story.

    Motivated by her healing journey, Jeanette has been an active member of Phoenix Society's Virtual Support Group for over four years. This community became a lifeline for her, offering not only support but also lifelong friendships. Over time, she has expanded her involvement, becoming a Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter, a CLIMB instructor, an advocate and speaker for mental health, and a support group leader. She strives to help others know they can rise and thrive after a burn injury.

    Links
    • Learn more about Phoenix SOAR: https://resources.phoenix-society.org/phoenix-soar
    • Request a peer support visit: https://resources.phoenix-society.org/peer-support-request
    • Learn more about the CLIMB study: https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/climb
    • Sign up to participate in CLIMB: https://redcap.partners.org/redcap/surveys/?s=W3LKWEAPNTPAM7RW
    • Sign up for Phoenix Society’s Virtual Support Group: https://www.phoenix-society.org/what-we-do/virtual-support-group
    • Join Phoenix Society’s Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/phoenixsocietypeersupport
    • Explore our Burn Community Calendar: https://www.phoenix-society.org/community-calendar
    • Learn more and register for Phoenix World Burn Congress (WBC): https://events.phoenix-society.org/event/PWBC2025/summary
    • Learn more about the Florida bill and AFCI requirements by emailing natasha@phoenix-society.org.

    Podcast Sponsor

    Today’s podcast is powered by the Pritzker Hageman Law Firm! The Pritzker Hageman burn injury legal team helps burn survivors and their loved ones pursue compensation and justice throughout the United States. Learn more at: LegalJourney.guide.

    Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

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    58 mins

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