There is no word that adequately describes someone who had been burnt severely, treated and returned to the comunity. The nearest is "survivor".

This book explores the complex areas of the emotional impact of a burn on the individual and family while giving insight into the world of hospitals, patients and doctors. It shows how the inner person can triumph over a preoccupation with surface scars and know that commitment, caring and trust are more important that the texture of the skin.

The book has relevance outside the narrow world of burn survivors and their families. It shows the ebb and flow of emotions that affect us all, particularilly in the transition between childhood and adulthood.

Those of us who are involved in the world of burns know how survivors slowly develop a depth of character and an inner strength which is rarely seen in others. Like tempering steel, the process of passing through the fire helps make a person of exceptional quality. This book is a stunning insight.