Leonor's Story |
Leonor was referred to Triple B Care for help by our office assistant who saw a post on Facebook about her plight. Leonor is 40 years old and has severe contractures from burns that were not treated well when she was 15 years old.
She and her father were making a bamboo torch to light their way. Gasoline was used, rather than kerosene, on the rag that was stuffed inside the bamboo. Basically, it exploded over Leonor and burnt her very badly. Because they are farmers (peasants), they didn't go to a hospital since they had no money to be treated, so she stayed at home for 4 days. She became unconscious, so her father finally took her to hospital, which was 8 hours round trip.
The doctors pronounced her dead because she was too smelly to be alive (the smell is from the burns). She was taken home and placed in a home-made coffin with instructions from the doctors to bury her that day. Since she was so smelly and injured, she couldn't be embalmed the traditional way.
The family took her to a little church, and the priest began his prayers. She lay in an open coffin with a glass panel at the head end, and as the priest threw holy water onto her body, Leonor miraculously woke up! They rushed her back to the hospital, and the priest helped by paying all the expenses.
She was in the hospital for nine months. Her treatment, however, was shocking. It is standard treatment for the Philippines and oh so lacking. Her contractures had started by week 4 and nothing was done to prevent them or heal her skin. Only a thin layer of dry gauze was placed on the skin then every 3rd day they debrided (scraped) the wounds without placing a cover on them. Hence her development of shocking contractures.
The fact that she has survived this ordeal is truly a miracle. Leonor tells us that when she was “dead” for a day, she went to hell and was told, “No, you are not meant to be here. Go up there.” So she walked and walked till she found heaven’s gates. There she saw 2 men, barely dressed. One asked her why she was there. The other said, “You are not needed here. Go back to earth.” So she began to walk and then felt water splash on her face and woke up. She shouted, “Why am I in a coffin?” The priest was so shocked that he funded her 9-month hospital bill. The rest is history…
We are looking forward to helping Leonor on her journey to reconstructive surgery and healing once Covid-19 has dissipated.
She and her father were making a bamboo torch to light their way. Gasoline was used, rather than kerosene, on the rag that was stuffed inside the bamboo. Basically, it exploded over Leonor and burnt her very badly. Because they are farmers (peasants), they didn't go to a hospital since they had no money to be treated, so she stayed at home for 4 days. She became unconscious, so her father finally took her to hospital, which was 8 hours round trip.
The doctors pronounced her dead because she was too smelly to be alive (the smell is from the burns). She was taken home and placed in a home-made coffin with instructions from the doctors to bury her that day. Since she was so smelly and injured, she couldn't be embalmed the traditional way.
The family took her to a little church, and the priest began his prayers. She lay in an open coffin with a glass panel at the head end, and as the priest threw holy water onto her body, Leonor miraculously woke up! They rushed her back to the hospital, and the priest helped by paying all the expenses.
She was in the hospital for nine months. Her treatment, however, was shocking. It is standard treatment for the Philippines and oh so lacking. Her contractures had started by week 4 and nothing was done to prevent them or heal her skin. Only a thin layer of dry gauze was placed on the skin then every 3rd day they debrided (scraped) the wounds without placing a cover on them. Hence her development of shocking contractures.
The fact that she has survived this ordeal is truly a miracle. Leonor tells us that when she was “dead” for a day, she went to hell and was told, “No, you are not meant to be here. Go up there.” So she walked and walked till she found heaven’s gates. There she saw 2 men, barely dressed. One asked her why she was there. The other said, “You are not needed here. Go back to earth.” So she began to walk and then felt water splash on her face and woke up. She shouted, “Why am I in a coffin?” The priest was so shocked that he funded her 9-month hospital bill. The rest is history…
We are looking forward to helping Leonor on her journey to reconstructive surgery and healing once Covid-19 has dissipated.
Baby Mercy in Uganda

I (Jessie in Uganda) was looking through photos in search of something last night and am amazed by the progress that Baby Mercy has made this week. They discharged her from the government hospital this past Sunday. BUT IT WAS TOO SOON! Her burn wounds were still open, sticky and raw. Those areas of her skinless body could become dangerously infected if not handled properly.
It didn’t matter. The bed was given to someone else. Discharge papers handed out. Next thing I know, Baby Mercy is at my gate. Bandages, open wounds, tears and all. At the time, I was nothing but angry and annoyed at this ongoing lack of care. Turns out, being discharged early was a blessing in disguise.
With the help of an Earth-Angel-Doctor (an Australian burn specialist) [Val Smith-Orr] who has been messaging us with step-by-step instructions every step of the way, we’ve been able to help Mercy in ways that she’s deserved all along.
While in the hospital, our hands were often tied. We had to do things by their timeline and in their misinformed ways. There were moments of great worry on our part. But what could we do? No other hospitals in the area would take her. Monday was a special day. With the help of a medical professional and dear JC friend, we were able to go to Mercy’s home and give her a warm bath. We carefully removed all the dead skin, applied ointments and lotions and love and, with that, the true healing journey has sped up incrementally. In this process, we have learned so much.
These days, Mercy is walking and laughing and enjoying big bowls of potatoes and meat. She goes to our friend’s clinic every day and gets to watch some cartoons before her bandages are changed and fresh ointments applied. In just three days, her wounds have now almost totally healed over. Very soon, those bandages won’t be needed anymore. That is so good because she also needs to regain more range of motion in her fingers and arm. Forever grateful for the doctors in our lives who have come alongside us in outstanding ways, both here in Uganda and abroad.
Extreme burn cases are extremely common in this part of the world. And yet knowledge in how to properly care for them is so small. Let me say this again: I have learned so much! Humbly, grateful. Beyond measure. Thank you for your prayers and support, my friends. Baby Mercy still has a long ways to go towards total healing. But I do believe we have now left the danger zone.
With love and gratitude from Uganda, Jessie and Baby Mercy
It didn’t matter. The bed was given to someone else. Discharge papers handed out. Next thing I know, Baby Mercy is at my gate. Bandages, open wounds, tears and all. At the time, I was nothing but angry and annoyed at this ongoing lack of care. Turns out, being discharged early was a blessing in disguise.
With the help of an Earth-Angel-Doctor (an Australian burn specialist) [Val Smith-Orr] who has been messaging us with step-by-step instructions every step of the way, we’ve been able to help Mercy in ways that she’s deserved all along.
While in the hospital, our hands were often tied. We had to do things by their timeline and in their misinformed ways. There were moments of great worry on our part. But what could we do? No other hospitals in the area would take her. Monday was a special day. With the help of a medical professional and dear JC friend, we were able to go to Mercy’s home and give her a warm bath. We carefully removed all the dead skin, applied ointments and lotions and love and, with that, the true healing journey has sped up incrementally. In this process, we have learned so much.
These days, Mercy is walking and laughing and enjoying big bowls of potatoes and meat. She goes to our friend’s clinic every day and gets to watch some cartoons before her bandages are changed and fresh ointments applied. In just three days, her wounds have now almost totally healed over. Very soon, those bandages won’t be needed anymore. That is so good because she also needs to regain more range of motion in her fingers and arm. Forever grateful for the doctors in our lives who have come alongside us in outstanding ways, both here in Uganda and abroad.
Extreme burn cases are extremely common in this part of the world. And yet knowledge in how to properly care for them is so small. Let me say this again: I have learned so much! Humbly, grateful. Beyond measure. Thank you for your prayers and support, my friends. Baby Mercy still has a long ways to go towards total healing. But I do believe we have now left the danger zone.
With love and gratitude from Uganda, Jessie and Baby Mercy
On the Road to Recovery

On July 11, Sidney had terrible flame burns to both his legs, arms, torso and face. Triple B Care Projects, Inc. in Castillejos took care of him on July 16. Thank you for trusting us and our international standard of care! He will be back to work soon!
A Word of Thanks
"The doctors wanted to cut my hand...but then I met m'am Val and ate Evelyn."
Gracelyn's Journey
Gracelyn arrived at Triple B Care 51 days post burn (from house fire). She had been given twice daily baths of Zonrox (toilet bleach) and water in a communal bathroom with only a sub-therapeutic dose of paracetamol for pain. She has gone through indescribable pain. Her finger and knees were contracting and there had been no contracture prevention. Fortunately, Triple B Care was there to help! See the transformation!
|
|
May 4, 2019 update: We are super happy with Gracelyn’s skin growth. Extreme physio working well!
Special thanks: Also pictured is Alan from the RSLBaretto branch (retired services league) who have generously supported the treatment of Gracelyn and other children with monthly donations from their Ladies Day raffles, first Tuesday every month. Awesome effort to help us buy much needed supplies for the clinic.
Special thanks: Also pictured is Alan from the RSLBaretto branch (retired services league) who have generously supported the treatment of Gracelyn and other children with monthly donations from their Ladies Day raffles, first Tuesday every month. Awesome effort to help us buy much needed supplies for the clinic.
A Lovely Lady’s Story
This lovely 74 year old lady was using gasoline to burn leaves when the vapour set her alight. Her initial treatment at a private hospital included a stay of 12 days, 4 debridements in the O.R. and no occlusive (medical) dressings or contracture prevention. The cost of this “treatment” was 300,000 Philippine pesos!
Almost 1 year after the burn and with severe contractures, she arrived at Triple B Care Projects. Val was able to start treatments with Advasil Conforme Scar management gel sheets to soften and flatten the scars, and she connected her with Prof Peter Haertsche, Burns Surgeon with ANZ Interplast, who changed her life and looks at 75 years old!
Here she is today...happy, healthy, and grateful for ANZ Interplast and Triple B Care.
Almost 1 year after the burn and with severe contractures, she arrived at Triple B Care Projects. Val was able to start treatments with Advasil Conforme Scar management gel sheets to soften and flatten the scars, and she connected her with Prof Peter Haertsche, Burns Surgeon with ANZ Interplast, who changed her life and looks at 75 years old!
Here she is today...happy, healthy, and grateful for ANZ Interplast and Triple B Care.