Burn survivor heals others with memoir
CHERRY HILL - Rosemary Worthy-Washington's life was altered on Jan. 8, 1986.
The then-29-year-old was driving along Fairmount Park in Philadelphia when her car was struck by a passenger van. When her car hit a tree and exploded, she was thrown while being engulfed in flames. The near-death experience left her with first-, second-, and third-degree burns to her face, head and legs.
The next nearly 30 years were filled with severe pain from her burns and over 100 reconstructive surgeries. Through her faith in God, she would dedicate her life to learning to walk again, learning to live with one eye and learning how to provide support for others who share the same trauma.
Her recently released memoir, "Exposed: I Will Not Be Ashamed," speaks of a variety of moments and situations she has experienced over the years, including rejection from the outside world.
"There was a moment in my life where I realized that man couldn't help me, I couldn't help me, so my faith had to help me. I truly had to pray before I went outdoors because that's how I gained strength," Worthy-Washington said.
"Being a young woman, physical appearance is critically important for living in an environment where beauty rules. What I didn't know then, but what my journey has taught me, is that rejection from people is what made me stronger."
Through her book, Worthy-Washington hopes to reach women who have experienced other life issues that are impacting the perception of their self-worth.
"They may be experiencing bullying or low self-esteem, but I believe what I share will change the trajectory of their lives so they can embrace their uniqueness in its totality."
In 2005, after years of searching for support, Worthy-Washington moved to Cherry Hill and founded her own support group. Healed with Scars is an organization for people with burn injuries. Worthy-Washington and other members of the group help people with burn injuries navigate their way back to society.
"Our mission is to inform and encourage burn survivors that a productive life after a tragedy is achievable," Worthy-Washington said. The group offers monthly support meetings in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
"In the meetings, we learn to love ourselves. You have to forgive people who do not understand what you have gone through and don't understand why you look the way you do," Worthy-Washington said.
Worthy-Washington says the support group has helped her greatly, knowing there are people out there who share the same public perception because of the scars they wear on their skin.
"I know that I am not the only one who is out there now. I know that I am not the only one who has had difficulty in understanding why people just don't get it. Why can't you just get that I'm a person too?"
Janet Pearson joined the support group in 2014. The Philadelphia Fire Department paramedic was only 18 months old when she was severely burned in a house fire. The fire left 45 percent of her body burned, including her face and hands.
Pearson met Worthy-Washington while attending a viewing for her friend Joyce Craig Lewis, a Philadelphia firefighter who died in the line of duty last December.
Funeral set for fallen Philadelphia firefighter
"It was a hard time for me," the 37-year-old said. "I wish she could have survived so she could have been a burn survivor with me and we could have shared our war stories."
Pearson doesn't remember a time in her life when she didn't have burn scars and is now only learning more about the house fire through old news clippings.
"In helping other people, it's helped me. Even in my field as a paramedic, I've encountered so many burn patients who I can now help on a more personal level."
Worthy-Washington's group and memoir has reached more than burn survivors. Healed with Scars member Simone Phillips has been suffering from a spinal disease for eight years. She finds the book relatable to her situation.
"I have a plate and screws and a prosthesis in my spine; it does get overwhelming. I went from the hospital, to being bed-bound, to being in a wheelchair to using a walker and now I am able to walk on my own.
"A book like that is needed for people with physical or emotional scars, but for people with mental scars caused by any debilitating injury or trauma," Phillips added.
Worthy-Washington, now 58, calls her life a remarkable journey.
"I am thankful for it."
Matt Flowers; (856) 486-2913; mflowers@gannettnj.com
If you go
'Exposed: I Will Not Be Ashamed' is available for purchase on Amazon.com. Proceeds go toward the nonprofit Healed with Scars — an organization for people with burn injuries.
Join the author, Rosemary Worthy-Washington to launch her book, 'Exposed: I Will Not Be Ashamed' from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at 48th & Woodland Avenue Recreation Center, Philadelphia.
Healed with Scars presents their annual workshop Inner Beauty on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Baptist Women's Center 1428 West Poplar Street Philadelphia from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. All are welcome to join.
For more information on the book or meetings, contact Rosemary Worthy-Washington at exposediamnotashamed@gmail.com or visit the Healed with Scars website.