"am I really burned?...because that would be ridiculous"

**Drafts: Summary (up to being burned) and an Outline (age 8 through 9th grade)**

Thank you to those that have written thanking me for the site -- it is quite rewarding for me.

I'm in the process of redesigning the web site; again, any suggestions are welcome. Also, the Resources Page was updated with some info about burn survivor Robert Timberg, the author/biographer of several books on the Vietnam War and John McCain, and another burn survivor is the author of The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls (blog interview about her book).

For anyone that visits this site regularly, I've finally realized that I'm not going to make any progress continuing to dicker with updates that add no real value. This project is about being burned, and it is about me, and my accomposhments, and as delusional as this sounds, I’m not burned--that’s not who I am. Sure there are photos that show scars and ill fitting clothes (the daily struggle of uncomfortable clothing), but other than that you’d be hard pressed to find testimonials from my friends, co-workers, and family that would think to mention, “oh yeah, the burned guy.” Now, I'm sure they would say something like, “he needs to lose a little weight,” or “he talks a lot, but he does listen.” So, this site is best just a simple and perhaps cursory view of me than something in-depth.

Here’s the beginning words of my forthcoming book:

He died. It was a crisp chilly Thanksgiving morning in north Florida on Lake Geneva in a blazing cabin fire that took his identity. The ten year boy reading Green Lantern comics the night before was gone.

His life had been pretty amazing, and perhaps it was appropriate that it ended eloquently in a cabin, his life exploding into fire from the ignition of gasoline vapor from a one gallon fuel can, which a moment before appeared picture perfect in his hands, very much like one of those old glossy magazine ads for Coleman camping gear, and the next moment a crumbled piping hot charred wreck of metal that a bored hitchhiker wouldn’t bother to kick if found on the roadside.

That, perhaps, may be the total extent to which I mention being burned. I’m still working on the format.

The timing of this site's debut marks the 30th anniversary of being burned by a gasoline can explosion in a cabin on Lake Geneva, Florida on a very cold Thanksgiving morning in 1976. I was burned over fifty percent of my body, including my face, and was treated at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, and then at the Shriners in Boston. I was ten years old at the time of the accident.

During the last thirty years, I've lived a rather exciting and mundane life, and that is what this site is about--it's About Being Normal.

Here's a short list of some facts about me:

• Maxfield Parrish (the illustrator) is my great grandfather;
• My father is a medical doctor (who happened to be working at the ER when I was burned);
• I earned a law degree (awarded a Juris Doctor degree);
• I created the first USO Internet web site (uso.org);
• My mother died from a brain tumor (brain cancer) two years before I was burned;
• I, or on my behalf, have never pursued legal action against any person or business [I mention this because it is amazing how many people believe I have untold sums of money from some burn injury settlement--I attribute the perception to popular culture];
• I, at all times, would prefer to wear nothing but shorts;
• I have never been fired from a job, and I tend to sell myself short;
• I'm 1/32nd Creek Indian (Florida);
• I once had an engaging conversation with Barbara Bach;
• My degree of personal self doubt and self judgment are the largest hurdles in my life. I've pushed myself to overcome these self inflicted obstacles, the struggle continues--it's almost like a drug with highs and lows, but I always feel inferior; however, on the bright side, I carry on determined in my mission to understand the wonders of the universe.
  

Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston Unit
Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Send any questions or comments to: christopherfitts at yahoo.com

Christopher Fitts

Stories and Memories : Law School - Career - Music - Stories - Family Life - Self Worth - Poetry - Job Interviews

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Burn Survivors in the News, and Burn Related Tidbits: Click Here for Articles. Burn Survivor Projects

Celebrity Burn Survivors and Famous Fictional Burn Characters

The Atlantic Online | June 2009 | What Makes Us Happy? [case studies of normal people living normal lives]

Well, if you made it this far here's an interesting statistic: The phrase "where are all the burn survivors" is one of the top search terms that lands people on this site.

Notice: If you are trying to reach me concerning "wealth preservation and asset protection strategy coaching" with Drew Miles and Pathfinder Business Strategies, please take note that I'm am no longer affiliated with that program. Please contact Drew Miles directly at Pathfinder Business Strategies.

Copyright © 2006-2009 Christopher Fitts. All rights reserved. (I could place disclaimers all over this site about all the burn survivors who are or where much worse off than I, so please keep in mind I’m not callous to the range of damage burns inflict on a person, and if I let my empathy for others overwhelm I’d never be able to create this site.)