Healing through Harmony

Thomas is a quiet yet confident young man as he sits in the lobby of Shriners Children’s Boston with his wife.

He is eager to share his story as a burn survivor and former patient, hoping to inspire children at the same hospital where he recovered. Since graduating from care at Shriners Children’s, Thomas has become a husband, father and self-taught pianist. But one of his biggest accomplishments happened within the hospital walls: he gained the ability to eat again.

Nearly 10 years after successfully being treated for an esophageal burn, the native Peruvian, who has now relocated to the Boston area, felt ready to talk about his experience. “This hospital receives a lot of pediatric patients, some of whom are not doing well after their injuries,” said Thomas. “I want other patients to know they are much stronger than they think.”

At just a year and a half old, Thomas sustained a burn injury after swallowing a drop of acid. “My father was a technician who fixed cars and kitchens,” Thomas shared. “He was mixing chemicals when I grabbed the bowl that was being used, causing acid to come down onto my body.”

Thomas’s father rushed him to the shower to wash the chemical off his son. While Thomas did not sustain any surface burns, his esophagus was affected by the acid, which disrupted his ability to eat. “As a child, I was very curious about what things tasted like. I would hide treats behind the TV, and I would take a little bit to see how it tasted,” said Thomas, who went on to explain that after sustaining his burn, he would become very sick from eating, and his family would have to bring him to the hospital.

It soon became clear to Thomas’ family that he needed specialized burn care from physicians at Shriners Children’s, who had expertise in esophageal reconstruction. Arriving in Boston just shy of his tenth birthday, Thomas credits the dedication of his parents and siblings for helping him get the treatment needed to heal.

With the help of his surgeon and the staff at Shriners Children’s Boston, Thomas’s esophagus was transformed. “Thanks to them, I can eat normally again and have regained such an important part of life.”

A burn injury, along with changes in navigating dietary habits, can be difficult, as food is a central part of human culture and daily routine. With the injury Thomas sustained, food intake by mouth is either limited or paused while patients heal and undergo appropriate surgical procedures. “Patients may need temporary enteral nutrition support, which may require various feeding tubes,” said Jennifer Shiel, MS, RD, LDN, a nutritionist at Shriners Children’s Boston. “Eventually, they will have oral nutrition support in the form of supplements, high-calorie foods and protein shakes.”

For Thomas, eating on his own was a team effort involving medical staff across various departments. “Following a burn injury, patients will often need to be evaluated to be sure it is safe for them to swallow,” said Kathy Prelack, Ph.D., RD, the director of nutrition at Shriners Children’s Boston. “Once they are able to eat, we want to make sure they eat enough calories and protein to meet their needs for further wound healing and for rehabilitation therapy.”

A big milestone for Thomas during his healing journey was the first time he successfully ate ice cream at Shriners Children’s Boston without getting sick. “I remember that little taste of the ice cream; my mom was worried,” Thomas said. “In Peru, I couldn’t have eaten that, but here at Shriners Children’s Boston, it was different. My mom was relieved that everything went well.”

Thomas was mindful as he reflected on the staff at Shriners Children’s Boston, who made a profound impact on his life. Years after his discharge, Thomas recalled the music therapy program and how it inspired him to become a self-taught pianist. “I still remember the first time I arrived on the seventh floor of Shriners Children’s Boston, where the music therapy team welcomed me so warmly,” Thomas said. “It felt like a little playground inside the hospital.”

Music therapy was a bright light for Thomas during his recovery. “Many people during hospital stays, including myself, need a distraction, as it’s hard. Music therapy helped a lot,” he said. He went on to describe how staff members would come to his hospital room to play guitar or piano. It was the first time Thomas heard those instruments. “Music therapy is one of the reasons I became a pianist, and to help others through music.”

When not working, Thomas enjoys spending time with his family and taking his children to their various activities. He also starts his days by playing piano, a passion that developed while recovering from his injury. “To the doctors and the medical staff at Shriners Children’s Boston, even though it’s been many years and they’ve seen many faces, I have them in my heart and my prayers for all the care they provided for me.”