The Untitled Project

The Untitled Project: This is Katy Llywellyn , She is a burn survivor from Pulaski, Virginia. She was burned at age 12 due to a house fire. Katy and her brother lived with her grandparents, while her father and uncle lived next-door. In the middle of the night her grandparent's house caught fire. Katy's grandparents and brother made it out of the house and called for help. Once they realized that Katy was not outside with them her brother attempted to run inside and save her. Katy's father stopped his son since he was just a child. Katy woke up to a smoke filled house; she did not realize there was danger, she thought the smoke was caused by the wood stove. She got up to investigate and once she opened her bedroom door she was hit by a wall of thick smoke. As she walked through the house she noticed that fire blocked both doors leading to the outside. She froze, not knowing where to go. Katy's grandfather reentered the home and found her in the dining room. Since the smoke was so thick, both Katy and her grandfather passed out. Her grandfather attempted to shield her with his body as they fell to the ground. Once her grandfather did not emerge from the home after a few minutes, Katy's father and uncle broke through the back door and pulled both Katy and her grandfather to safety. Katy stated, as she crawled away from the burning house she saw her skin peeling off of her body.

Once in the ambulance, Katy's body swelled so severely that the paramedics had to split the skin on the back of her arms and legs so that her skin would not burst from the pressure. Katy and her grandfather were airlifted and placed in a medically induced coma. They were initially flown to Roanoke, but not admitted since their burns were too severe for their medical staff. They were then flown to UVA burn unit, where they were both treated. Katy was 88% burned and not expected to survive. The medical team thought they would have to remove her fingers, lips, and nose due to the extent of her injuries, but in the end, she was able to keep them. Katy was in a coma for one month. Once her treatment at UVA was complete, she was flown to Shriners for 4 months. She would return to Shriners every 6 weeks for more surgeries. Once released from care, she returned home in a wheelchair and was not expected to walk. Katy only remained wheelchair bound for 1 year; she was determined to be independent and walk on her own. Katy has had 111 surgeries - the most recent was in September of 2021. She does not have any upcoming surgeries scheduled at this time. Unfortunately her grandfather only survived for 10 days after the accident.

Katy explained that she does have some physical limitations, but she is fully and independently functioning. She went through extensive physical therapy for her physical wellbeing and saw a childhood trauma therapist for her emotional wellbeing. She also pulled support from her family and friends. One year after her injury, she got involved with the Central Virginia Burn Camp. She explained that being involved with the camp was a huge part of her emotional recovery. When I asked her what coping strategies have been helpful for her she stated that she knows that her grandfather sacrificed himself for her and that she wants to honor him with her life. She also explained that she focuses on her blessings and the love that she has in her life.

Katy is strong, brilliant, and beautiful.

Check out her full gallery on the blog: bradeneventphotography.zenfolio.com/blog

If you or someone you know would like to be involved in the Untitled Project, please message me.

This is Jua'Queyunis "Jae Jae" Johnson from Seffner, Florida. She was burned in 2003 on Valentine's Day when she was 18 months old. Jae Jae was at her grandparents house; her grandfather was cooking on a electric skillet while she was playing. Jae Jae was shooed out of the kitchen multiple times, but while no one was looking she reentered the kitchen. The balloon she was playing with floated over the stove and Jae Jae climbed on top of a stool to get it. When she did, she grabbed the skillet handle - pouring oil on herself.

Jae Jae was hospitalized for 6 weeks and deemed 30% burned. As treatment, she received skin grafts, using her own skin. Since skin grafts tend to become thick and raised, she had to wear pressure garments to help with the healing process. Her mother explained that since she was so young and didn't understand that she needed to wear a mask pressure garment on her face, she would constantly pull it off. Jae Jae explained that her scalp was badly burned and her hair no longer grew on a large portion of her head. When she was seven year old she had cosmetic reconstructive surgery to regrow hair; she had tissue expanders inserted into her scalp to reconstruct her hairline. The expanders are slowly inflated over a period of weeks so the surgeon can harvest a large patch of skin where healthy hair follicles grow. They then replace the heavily scarred skin with the newly harvested patch. As she got older, she also had eye reconstruction to help it properly close and scar reduction on her face. Jae Jae explained that she has no further need for surgeries at this time and she is happy in her own skin. She stated that she has never been held back by her scars and has always been a confident young woman. She explained that she has never been bullied by her peers or treated any different by anyone in her family. She never viewed herself as having limitations. Jae Jae explained that it is important to come to terms with who you are and not compare yourself to others. Once we fully accept ourselves we can move past our flaws and embrace our beauty.

You can view her full gallery and all of the other participant's stories and galleries on the blog.

bradeneventphotography.zenfolio.com/blog

Jae Jae Johnson