Burns are one of the worst injuries a person can sustain. Not only do they hurt more and for longer than any other kind of injury, they cause so much more residual damage than any other wound. Cuts leave scars but they lay flat on the surface of the skin and simply connect tissue that was disconnected, whereas scars for burns are tissue created to replace skin that was completely taken away. They end up being extremely restrictive and can cause as much dysfunction as the initial burn. Nine-year-old Samuel Shadrick is all too familiar with this turn of events, as he was burned at nine months old and has lived with the destructive contraction of his toes and foot due to scar tissue for his whole life.

Samuel’s family does not know exactly how he was burned, all they know is they put him to bed one night, put out the fire in the lamp and the next day his right leg and foot were burned. As he has grown and the burns have gone untreated, the scar tissue has mangled his foot. He walks with great difficulties and running to play soccer or other games with his friends is out of the question. Despite the tough time he has getting around, and the ridicule he gets from his classmates because of his disfigurement, he still goes to school, he’s in the second grade, and works his hardest.

His mother works hard too, to support her three children, especially Samuel and his special needs and she does it all on her own since her husband died in 2004. This family has seen enough sad and had its fair share of discouraging things happen, but now it’s time to celebrate, because Samuel is going to finally get the medical attention he needs for his foot and that will open all new doors for him and his family. We’re so glad they found CURE!