Halloween Costumes Can Be Scary – Burn Survivors Are Not

By Jason Heard, M.D., burn surgeon at Shriners Children’s Northern California

Halloween is a time when we revel in spooky tales of ghouls, goblins and things that go bump in the night. Among the iconic Halloween characters that haunt our nightmares, Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street stands out – a menacing figure, his body marred by burn scars.

While gasping at someone dressed up as Freddy Krueger on Halloween is all in good fun, it's important to remember that real burn survivors are not the monsters we see in popular culture. Regrettably, society often uses the portrayal of burn scarring as a visual cue to label characters as monstrous. This portrayal, prevalent in movies, television shows and even comic books, has seeped into our subconscious, leading many to unconsciously view burn survivors as frightening, disfigured individuals who can't reintegrate into society or lead normal lives.

This couldn't be further from the truth. I can attest to this because there was a time when people were afraid of me. Now, my life's mission revolves around supporting and caring for children who face similar challenges and emotional journeys at Shriners Children's Northern California.

At the age of 12, I experienced a horrible accident that resulted in second- and third-degree burns covering over 40% of my body. I had poured gasoline onto a backyard fire in my childhood home in Urbandale, Iowa. My face, torso, hands, arms and even my right ear bore the scars of that fateful day.

Rushed to the University of Iowa Burn Treatment Center, I spent several days sedated and on a ventilator. When I finally regained consciousness, my face was swollen, and I couldn't see – everything was dark.

Over the course of the next two years, I underwent a staggering number of surgeries including skin grafting and reconstructive procedures. At the vulnerable age of 13, I was already grappling with teenage self-consciousness, and now, the visibility of my scars only made things worse. Classmates would stare, and adults would look at me alarmed. Fortunately, I had a support network and wonderful friends who stood by my side.