From Trauma to Purpose

"I’m thinking out loud…
 

And I realize that life is a quest for meaning.
 

And that, when we find it… Things begin to align.
 

We stop struggling, searching, scattering ourselves.

We start channeling our energy in ONE direction, with trust.

And trusting… is entrusting yourself to life."

Stephanie Romeo

Last week was the annual French-speaking burn care congress, held in Belgium.
It focuses on the medical study of burns and all aspects of caring for burn survivors.

In this kind of medical congress, professionals share their experiences and findings
to improve their practice and better support patients — whether the burns were caused by fire, hot water, chemicals, or other accidents.

Why am I telling you this?

Because behind the clinical terms and the physical scars, there’s something else.

There’s life.

And there’s hope.

We were at the French Burn Association(ABF) booth.

To my right: Aurélien, a railway technician in France, severely burned on the job.
To my left: Olivier, known as Captain Icarus, burned at age 9 on 97% of his body during a camping trip.

Three paths, three stories, three ways of transforming suffering.

Captain Icarus now shares his wisdom, his art, and what it’s like to live in a burned body.
He answers questions, doubts, and curious minds (no judgment here!) on social media.
You can find him on YouTube / Instagram / TikTok — “Turn your difference into art” :
https://www.youtube.com/@oliveferrand
https://www.instagram.com/captain_icarus_
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/captain-icarus

Bravo,
and thank you, Captain.

Aurélien is part of ABF’s on-the-ground volunteer team.
He visits patients in rehab centers, offering them listening, trust, and useful information.

Thank you for your dedication, Aurélien.

As for me, the burn didn’t become the center of my life.
But it was a turning point.

I discovered knowledge and tools that deeply changed the way I live.
I developed skills to make peace with myself, with others, with my past… and with the world as it is.

And today, I share these tools with those who want to change.
With those who no longer want to suffer.
With those who feel stuck, overwhelmed by their thoughts, anxiety, doubts, or stress.

Because while we don’t choose our trials,
we can choose our resources.

Warmly,
Stephanie