Physical Health Taiwan Project #54602

Rehabilitation for burn survivors in Taiwan

by Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation

Rehabilitation for burn survivors in Taiwan

Project Report | May 4, 2025
Crafting Courage, One Stitch at a Time

By Marie-Claude Pelchat | Project Leader

In 2011, the Sunshine Foundation launched the Oral Cancer Survivor Family Support Program to help families facing financial insecurity due to the challenges of oral cancer. The program aimed to provide a pathway to financial stability through an income-generating sewing project. Families received professional sewing training, and an educational fund was also established to help the children of participating families achieve their dreams.

In 2019, the Sunshine Foundation's Southern Service Center expanded the program by officially forming the Smile Work Team. The Smile Work Team emerged in response to the unexpected life challenges posed by oral cancer, burn injuries, and other forms of acquired facial disfigurement. These conditions often place significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens on individuals and their families, requiring them to rebuild their lives with strength and resilience.

Through training with Sunshine's Smile Work Team, each member grows in skill and confidence, gaining the hope and courage to face the future.

Embracing the concept of "zero waste," the team collaborates with textile companies to repurpose fabric remnants. Professional product designers and sewing instructors guide the team in creating unique handcrafted products, each tailored to the characteristics of the fabric used—truly one-of-a-kind creations. Every product reflects the dreams and hopes of oral cancer and burn survivors for a brighter future.

Crafting a Radiant Life — Ah-Hui's Story

Wearing pressure gloves, Ah-Hui carefully sews coasters with skilled hands. She is a burn survivor of Sunshine’s Southern Service Center and one of the founding members of the Smile Work Team. Ah-Hui's life revolved around household chores until one fateful day in 2016, when a faulty essential oil bottle sprayed near a stove while cooking, causing a sudden accident. She suffered 25% second- and third-degree burns, primarily on her hands — a devastating injury for a full-time mother. From carer, she became someone who needed to be cared for.

Ah-Hui endured over a month of hospitalization due to severe burns, facing life-threatening complications and undergoing skin graft surgeries. Her altered appearance caused her children to cry and avoid her, which deeply hurt her. Her husband took extended leave to care for her, while their youngest child was cared for by relatives. Overcome with guilt, Ah-Hui struggled with public stigma and intense physical challenges, including unbearable heat sensitivity and painful rehabilitation exercises. Despite the agony, she quietly endured the pain, determined not to burden her family.

Sunshine's Southern Service Center became a safe haven for Ah-Hui, where she no longer feared being stared at. The support from staff and other burn survivors gave her warmth and encouragement. Despite the painful rehabilitation, her determination to recover came from her family, as she didn't want to burden her husband or worry her children.

During her recovery, Ah-Hui worried about her future and how to contribute financially to the family. When invited to join the Smile Work Team, she eagerly seized the chance to learn sewing, a long-held wish. Wearing pressure gloves, she tackled sewing lessons despite her limited hand mobility, pouring her hopes into every handcrafted item.

Balancing rehabilitation, sewing, and household duties made her days busier than ever, but Ah-Hui's confidence blossomed, bringing more smiles. Her children even helped with fabric cutting, and one daughter remarked, "Mom is happier because she's doing something she loves."

Help Us Create More Stories of Hope
Ah-Hui's journey of resilience and renewed purpose was made possible through Sunshine's support. You can help by Donating to Sunshine. Your donation can help other burn survivors and individuals with facial disfigurement regain their confidence, rebuild their lives, and find hope again. Every contribution makes a difference. Please join us in making a lasting impact.

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Jan 31, 2025
Sunshine Is My Second Home

By Taoyuan-Hsinchu Service Center | Rehabilitation Team

Even before stepping into the rehabilitation center, the lively laughter and banter of Wei and his peers create a warm and uplifting atmosphere. This vibrant energy is a stark contrast to the early days when Wei first arrived at the Taoyuan-Hsinchu Service Center. Back then, he was quiet and withdrawn.

In 2018, Wei suffered severe burns over 72% of his body after falling into a vat of hot water at work. Recalling those days, Wei shared, "At first, I couldn’t accept it. During my hospital stay, my vocal cords were damaged from repeated intubations. I couldn’t drink water—just moisten my lips with a cotton swab. Every step was agony, and I’d collapse without help. I was so emotionally unstable that several hired caregivers quit, and the painkillers couldn’t even ease the discomfort."

After three months of hospitalization, Wei joined the Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation’s rehabilitation program. Initially, he was reserved and distant, making it hard for social workers to connect with him. "I was depressed back then," Wei admitted. "I avoided everyone, lived in my own world, and felt defeated by the constant pain."

Despite the daily struggles with the pain, itching, numbness, and prickling sensations caused by his scars, Wei pushed forward. Through perseverance, he made steady progress, supported by the camaraderie of his fellow burn survivors and the encouragement of staff. Over time, he began to transform, learning to embrace life and treasure every moment.

Today, Wei is the heart and soul of the center. Whether organizing trips, dinners, or food-tasting events, he brings people together, helping fellow survivors rediscover joy and confidence. Wei’s guidance also extends to new patients, sharing his journey to inspire hope and resilience. "The center feels like my second home," Wei shared. "I love the warmth and laughter here, and I’m grateful for the people who helped me. Now that I can, I want to give back and support others in their recovery."

Wei’s humor and empathy create a safe and uplifting space for others to heal. "It’s amazing to see people improve and regain their strength. It makes me happy to know I’m part of their journey," Wei said, smiling.

His journey reminds us that even in the face of immense challenges, hope and determination can pave the way to recovery. By supporting each other, we can turn pain into purpose and help others rebuild their lives.

Help Us Continue This Work
The Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation provides essential rehabilitation services and emotional support for burn survivors like Wei. Your donation can help us offer hope and healing to even more people in need.

Donate today and be part of their transformation. Every contribution brings us closer to helping burn survivors rebuild their lives with confidence and joy.

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Oct 28, 2024
Do you know about the hidden cost of burns?

By Marie-Claude Pelchat | Project Leader

Burns aren’t just an injury to the skin

When burns occur, the person suffers more than just external wounds on the body.The “hidden costs” that burn survivors face are often overlooked and often more difficult to overcome.This burden can affect every aspect of life, from financial hardship to social stigma and even psychological trauma.

Hospital discharge is not the end of the ordeal, but the beginning.The process of long-term rehabilitation is a huge burden.From wound healing to scar control, burn survivors need to undergo countless reconstructive surgeries and rehabilitation treatments, which not only consumes time and money, but also requires strong psychological willpower.They also need to wear pressure garments for a long time to prevent scarring and joint contracture, which is a very uncomfortable and inconvenient process.

This process comes with another hidden cost: a financial burden.Long-term hospitalization or rehabilitation often results in loss of wages due to the inability to work during this period.Especially when the breadwinner of the family suffers burns and scalds, the life of the entire family will be affected.

If children are burned or scalded, the interruption of education is also a hidden problem.When children suffer from burns and scalds, the long-term treatment and rehabilitation process may prevent them from attending school consistently.Even if the wounds heal, these children may be ostracized or bullied by their classmates due to changes in appearance, further affecting their learning and psychological well-being.

In addition to these practical difficulties, psychological trauma is often another huge challenge that burn survivors have to face.Burns and scald injuries not only leave physical scars but can also cause deep self-image issues.Many people become afraid of contact with others due to changes in their appearance and the social pressure that this change brings.

Burn survivors may experience social stigma and discrimination, which makes returning to normal life more difficult. Because scars create visible physical changes, people with burn injuries often fail to meet society's high expectations and standards for appearance, which puts them under tremendous pressure in social situations and may result in missed opportunities.

These invisible costs are hard to quantify in dollars, but they undeniably make the road to recovery for burn survivors more difficult. This is why it has been Sunshine Foundation’s mission since 1981 to provide comprehensive services for burn survivors; to assist them in their physical, psychological and social rehabilitation; and to uphold their human rights and dignity. By supporting our work, you help us ensure that the hidden costs of burns do not overburden burn survivors and their families, so that they can fully focus on their recovery.

We will be marking the first World Burn Week from November 4 to November 2024. With increased awareness of burns, we can advocate for better support for ALL burn survivors, in Taiwan and around the world.

We encourage you to:

Learn more about how we support the physical and psychosocial rehabilitation of burn survivors in Taiwan.

Forward this article to let more people know about the hidden costs behind burns and raise awareness about this health issue.

Donate to our project Rehabilitation for burn survivors in Taiwan

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