Fundación del Quemado: Healing the scars of the skin and soul

By Luz Marina Trujillo

In 1995, Linda Guerrero, who was the Director of the Burn Unit of the Simon Bolivar Hospital, and six other colleagues from the same medical center, tired of seeing how patients with burns of all kinds who were discharged from the hospital could not continue with their treatments or could not have access to self-care elements or receive the necessary care to heal their wounds almost completely, decided to create a Foundation that would provide continuity in the care of burn patients and also guarantee them a comprehensive benefit. The Fundación del Quemado was born.

A story is woven from the ashes 

In just one office, which functioned as a surgical, psychological, social work and even accounting office, the seven specialists began their work with the delivery of useful elements for the recovery of patients, which were not delivered by the then known as Social Security (lycra garments to relieve pain and sunscreens), as well as offering follow-up and recommendations for exercises and key postures for the overall improvement of patients.

Later, when it became evident that they were a multidisciplinary team that had all the capabilities and experience, they decided to venture into the surgical reconstructions required by the patients, however, the lack of resources did not allow them to start as soon as they wanted, in addition, they had to be legally constituted as a Foundation.

Through all kinds of activities, including a flea market, they began to receive donations from both individuals and companies that came together to support the cause, but despite this, not everything was rosy, when they had barely managed to collect enough money to pay a lawyer who would be responsible for making the statutes and legally create the Foundation, the lawyer never appeared and took all the money they had collected with him, so they had to start from scratch once again.

Commitment to patients goes beyond

With the motivation intact to support the country’s burn patients, they were able to raise the necessary money, legally constitute the Foundation and acquire its first headquarters, located in the Campin neighborhood in Bogota, where despite the limited space, they were able to support hundreds of patients with comprehensive care, and reached a milestone to admire: they created the first Skin Bank that existed in Colombia and the third in Latin America. Thanks to this, they were able to increase the number of surgeries and support more and more people.

Years later, and thanks to the continued support of more people and companies, the Foundation moved to a larger headquarters located in the Niza neighborhood in the same city (Bogota), where they are currently located and already have their own office for each type of specialty. Today, patients enjoy attention in physiotherapy, psychology, social work and plastic surgery; and even enjoy a playroom dedicated to children who visit or are part of the organization.

The Burn Foundation has become a home and refuge for girls, boys, adolescents, women, men and even older adults, who unfortunately have gone through an episode of burns but have found a place where the purpose is to help them to be reborn both in their skin and in their soul.

Today, 30 years later, in addition to all the care that the Foundation provides to its patients at its headquarters in Bogota, since 2018 the Fundación del Quemado performs medical-surgical days that allow them to reach the different corners of Colombia, moving its team to fulfill the mission in other places. At the moment, 2 days have been held in Ubaté, 2 in Girardot and 3 in Nariño; in addition, they have been in Cartagena and Ibagué.

Likewise, the Foundation has become a reference, they are the only ones that make non-formal education through congresses, where professionals and Colombians in general have been able to learn about the Foundation and thus contribute. Likewise, the Foundation dictates a course of Basic Initial Care of Burned Patients, which aims to inform and reduce the complications of the patient, because many times in accidents with burns, people are very scared with the burns and do not know how to care for them or start their care. It is essential to know what to do in these situations.

A work that will always require support

Throughout three decades, this institution has demonstrated the importance of supporting burn patients, uniting thousands of Colombians who, with their donations, have been key to the care provided. However, guaranteeing the continuity of this work requires constant support, since such support is essential to sustain this cause and transform more lives.

Specifically, a burned patient who comes to receive care from the Fundación del Quemado, can last between 6 months, which is the minimum that a patient requires, to years, where even must undergo 2 surgeries a year for several years. Likewise, the workshops in the provinces have allowed the Foundation to realize that the farther or more remote the municipality is from the capital of the country, the greater the consequences, and the abandonment of the state in all senses, unfortunately, due to lack of resources, these workshops have had to prioritize the cases to be attended, achieving the surgery of 80% to 90% of all the people who require it.

Having permanent support both financially and from extra hands that join the cause and allow the Foundation to continue to operate, is undoubtedly key for each patient to continue receiving the full treatment they require and so that more and more Colombians with burns can be treated. Let’s help to help!

In the following link, you can find all the information about the Fundación del Quemado, as well as make your donations by clicking the ‘Donate Now’ button: https://fundaciondelquemado.org/. You can also reach out via email at: contacto@fundaciondelquemado.org.
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