Why our scars are beautiful

Hayley Doyle, Katie Piper and Raiche Mederick “People assumed I would never get married or have a job” -Katie

KATIE Piper, 31, lives in London. She says: “It’s never easy to live with a disfigurement, but i’m proof there are ways to rebuild your life – and make it better than ever.

In July 2010, just over two years after my ex-boyfriend arranged for a man to throw industrial-strength sulphuric acid in my face, I launched The Katie Piper Foundation.

I wanted to support other burns survivors through their recovery, giving them access to the same cutting-edge care I had experienced. Things like camouflage make-up tutorials, wigs and laser treatment are not always available on the NHS. I also hoped to work with doctors and nurses, as well as other charities, to improve facilities.

I had the idea to set up the foundation after my first documentary was aired on TV in October 2009. Donations flooded in, as well as countless offers of kindness, including being offered an office space in London. And Simon Cowell even pledged to be a patron. I had everything I needed at my fingertips.

In five years, The Katie Piper Foundation has gone from strength to strength, empowering hundreds of burns survivors. We hold monthly workshops around the UK, organising peer support activities, including craft classes and Pilates. We also provide advice on scar care and give people access to free specialist treatments, which is only made possible by our donors.

One woman with scars on her legs, who had worn thick black tights for 16 years, found the confidence to wear a skirt after attending our workshops. Another in her 60s, who had hidden herself away after being burnt as a child, ventured to a workshop and was able to meet other survivors. And a man in his 20s – who’d also been the target of an acid attack – had a weave put in so he didn’t have to worry about his wig blowing off in the wind.

Like other burns survivors, I’ll never forget feeling horrified the first time I looked in the mirror after my attack. On top of dealing with my own self-loathing and fears for the future, I had to fight the perceptions of those around me – even loved ones like my own mother, who has since admitted that she doubted I would ever get married, return to the professional world or become a mum. It’s the ultimate assumption: that once you’re disfigured, those doors are closed.

In those first weeks, I played back memories of all the relationships I’d ever had, trying to relive what it felt like to hold hands and kiss, convinced I would never experience that again.

In August 2008, I travelled to an intensive burns rehabilitation unit in France called Centre Ster, after my surgeon referred me because there was no treatment centre like it in the UK. I had a long period of scar-management therapies, such as deep-tissue massage, which had a remarkable impact on my mental and physical recovery. It was there, while interacting with other burns survivors, that I made the most progress in regaining control of my life. When there’s someone who has had a harder struggle, it teaches you to be tougher. I realised that my life wasn’t over – I still had hope, and that was the most important thing.

Why couldn’t I date and feel sexy again? Why couldn’t I be a trailblazer?

The foundation gave me a purpose in life when I needed it the most and has now boosted the self-belief of other burns sufferers by bringing them together. For the first few years, I lived down the road from the office in Chiswick, but as thousands of emails poured in I started training up volunteers to help out at workshops. One of those is Hayley Doyle, who encourages others to flourish with her infectious sunny attitude. In May, we employed Raiche to manage our volunteers at the Ideal Home Show. She also hit her stride appearing as one of the models with visible differences on my diversity catwalk at the show.

With five members of staff working for me, I now delegate a lot more, but I still do one-to-one mentoring sessions and I’m on hand if anyone needs personal advice.

Since setting up the foundation, my confidence has soared and I’ve been able to achieve other goals, such as finding love with my fiancé James and becoming a mum to my beautiful 16-month-old daughter Belle. I’m determined to help other burns survivors realise their dreams, too.”

A plastic mask formed part of Katie’s treatment; Hayley in hospital soon after the accident

’I WOULDN’T TURN BACK TIME’

Hayley Doyle, 29, is a marketing executive who lives in Manchester with her boyfriend Darren, 29, a sales assistant. She says: “Growing up, I was a horse fanatic and used to spend all my spare time at the stables. One afternoon in September 2000 when I was 14, a little boy playing with matches accidentally started a fire. it raced through the hay, trapping me in the searing heat. I managed to escape by running through the blaze, but sustained third-degree burns all over my face and body, including my neck where my necklace had melted into my skin.

I spent the next six months in Booth Hall Children’s Hospital in Manchester. I didn’t fully appreciate how bad the scars covering my lower face, neck and stomach were, but once I returned to school, there was no escaping it. Wearing a pressure mask over my face, I became the brunt of bullies’ jokes. People laughed and pointed constantly, and some of my old friends ostracised me. It was terrifying and I’d never felt so alone.

While everyone else was off to discos, I was in hospital enduring painful skin grafts, leaving me unable to sit down for weeks after doctors stripped skin from my bottom to cover my scars. At home, I’d often break down in tears, begging my mum to make it stop.

A woolly jacket that zipped over my face became my security blanket and I wouldn’t leave the house without it. With my self-esteem at rock-bottom, I buried my head in my studies.

After school, I was determined to prove myself so I started working as a marketing assistant. It helped me turn a corner and I was resolute my scars wouldn’t stop me reaching my full potential. My confidence increased and I agreed to go on a date with Darren, an old school friend who constantly told me I was beautiful. I had resigned myself to being alone forever, so it was a real boost.

But deep down, I still felt alone. Nobody could understand what it was like to walk into a pub and get stared at, or be called a ‘freak’ and told to leave, which happened more than once. So when in 2013 I read about Katie Piper’s work to help burns survivors, I contacted her foundation. When I met her at a workshop soon after, I was truly inspired by her warmth and courage.

She arranged for me to have a camouflage make-up tutorial and I was amazed at the results. I couldn’t stop examining my flawless face in the mirror – it was the first time I’d been able to stare at myself since the accident. I’ve also had my lips tattooed to give shape to my burnt mouth and I’m having laser treatment to soften my scars.

Speaking to people who understand exactly what I’ve been through is very liberating. I attend monthly social events and, last year, trained as a peer supporter to help others. If I could go back in time and change that day of the fire, I can honestly say I wouldn’t. I’ve grown to love my scars – they’re a huge part of my identity. I don’t think I’d be where I am today without them.”

I was on a life support machine for four months

‘I’VE NEVER BEEN PROUDER OF WHO I AM’

Raiche Mederick, 22, is an events coordinator who lives in Romford, Essex. She says: “I’ve never known anything other than the familiar, disfigured reflection in the mirror. I was just 18 months when a house fire left me fighting for my life with third-degree burns on my face and body.

My brother Tyrel, then three, accidentally dropped a match in my bedroom. The house caught fire and if it hadn’t been for a neighbour dragging us outside, we would have died.

I was on a life support machine for four months, and because all the toes on my left foot had fused together, I had to have them amputated. The accident also left me facially disfigured and with permanent scars on my body. My head was so badly burnt that I’m now partially bald. At school, I covered my scalp with a headscarf, but classmates avoided holding hands with me in PE lessons and refused to sit next to me, which was incredibly upsetting. Strangers stared at me wherever I went and I couldn’t walk down the street without adults gawping, or worse, recoiling in horror.

Their ignorance used to anger me, but Mum has taught me to always hold my head up high. After I finished my GCSEs, I studied media at college and have since been doing work experience in the music industry when I’m not in hospital having skin grafts. I’ve had over 50 procedures, and I will need to have yearly operations indefinitely.

Still, however hard I slog it out, I can’t escape discrimination. I’ve been rejected for interviews and left out of social events, leaving me in tears. Instead of wanting to know the story behind my scars, strangers seem afraid of them. That’s why the work Katie has been doing to raise awareness for burns victims is immeasurable.

In 2012, after watching the Channel 4 documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face, I was so in awe of her courage that I contacted the foundation. Since then, I’ve attended workshops with Katie, where we share tips, such as preparing for dates and how to handle job interviews.

In October 2014, the foundation paid for me to get my eyebrows tattooed on, as well as have a weave made of human hair. I finally feel feminine and no longer have to wear an itchy wig. Last summer, I even wore a bikini on a holiday to Portugal. And in May I modelled on Katie’s diversity catwalk.

I never thought I’d be independent, but I moved into my own flat in June. I haven’t let myself start dating yet, but while I expect plenty of knocks, I know I won’t be alone – there will always be someone who I can talk to at the foundation.

I know now that a successful career and family await me, and I’ve finally learned to accept myself – so much so, that when I was offered laser treatment to soften the scars on my face last May, I declined.

Thanks to Katie, I’ve never been prouder of who I am.” The Sun.co.uk