Hey everyone!  My name is Emily...I am Cindy Jackson's oldest daughter.  I am down here in Bolivia, with my husband Nick, for the next three months.  Just yesterday, I visited BCI's Burn Clinic and I wanted to guest post to this blog with some photos and stories of the burn victims.  
 
     In 2001, my family was involved in an accident and my mom was burned very badly.  Over 30% of her body was 3rd degree burns.  We were living in Bolivia, South American at the time, but had to move to the USA to save her life!  After 5 months, we returned to Bolivia and my mom made it her mission to help burn victims like her.  

     Burn victims need special treatment and need to wear a Pressure Suit or Garment for up to two years!!!  It depends on how badly they were burned and how much of their body was burned.  Most people don't know how devastating burns are and how, if not cared for properly, can destroy a person's life.  Once burns have grown new skin, the hardest part begins!  The skin is an incredibly strong organ and can pull a persons body into positions that create handicaps...this is why Pressure Suits and Garments are SOOOO important!!!!!  My mom saw this need and created Burn Care International!!!  Although BCI does many things, the main focus is creating the Pressure Suits and Garments so that skin can heal correctly, smooth and flat.


    BCI's clinic is found in three small rooms inside Hospital Viedma in Cochabamba, Bolivia...a Patient Room and a Sewing Room, with a Bathroom in between.  Once you have arrived at the hospital grounds, you enter this door to the Physical Therapy area of Hospital Viedma.

I have always been hesitant to blog because while the first blog is usually easy, I procrastinate too much for the second and third and then two years later I can not even remember how to log on...............  I think you get the picture and some of you may be able to relate to me!!  But, for 2015, I want to commit to this blog because there is so much to tell and so much I want you all to know about the beautiful people I am so privileged to work with and to help.   My daughter Emily and her husband Nick are going to spend the next three months in Bolivia helping out in the burn center and so I am thrilled that she will be able to blog some for me and give us a window into the world of the Herman Urquidi Centro de Ninos Quemados or in English, the Herman Urquidi Center for Burned Children in Cochabamba, Bolivia!!   This 15 bed hospital is always full and we are thankful to work alongside of Dr. Oscar Romero and his staff.