Girls with Grafts

Kelly Woodhouse is no stranger to resilience. Burned on 75% of her body at just two years old, she has transformed a childhood marked by trauma and bullying into a life of purpose, strength, and inspiration. 🩷 In this episode, Rachel sits down with Kelly to explore her journey from surviving to thriving and how she found the courage to let her scars speak.

Together, Rachel and Kelly reflect on growing up with vis...

In this powerful episode, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and burn survivor Jim Wall joins host Rachel to share his story of survival, resilience, and purpose. 🌟 After sustaining a burn injury in 2022, Jim drew on the strength and discipline from his military career to forge a new path forward, one rooted in what he calls the 4 Fs: faith, family, fitness, and fire.

Jim opens up about the road to recovery and how his military mindset...

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, we’re joined by Phoenix Society CEO, Amy Acton, to explore the stories behind the data in the 2024 State of the Survivor Report! 📊Together, we unpack key findings that shed light on the current needs, challenges, and resilience of burn survivors. 

Special thanks to our 2024 report sponsor, Mölnlycke Health Care, for their continued support in advancing burn care and championing survivor-centere...

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with Charlene Pell, a burn survivor and the founder of Facing Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for individuals with visible differences. ✨ Charlene shares her journey, from surviving a burn injury to advocating for face equality.

Rachel and Charlene also dive into Face Equality Week, this year’s theme, “My Face is a Masterpiece,” and why shifting the perception of be...

Trigger warning: In this episode of Girls with Grafts, we have an important and heartfelt discussion about domestic violence, including personal experiences and the journey to healing. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline by visiting www.thehotline.org, calling 800-799-7233, or texting BEGIN to 88788. 

In this deeply moving episode of Gir...

In honor of National Volunteer Week, we're joined by Jeanette Johnson - burn survivor, Phoenix Society volunteer, and a voice of hope and healing. 🤝 In this heartfelt episode, Jeanette shares her journey of recovery over the past five years and how finding connection through Phoenix Society's Virtual Support Group changed everything.

She opens up about the friendships she's formed, including with our ...

In our latest episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with Brian O’Connor, a Senior Engineer in the Technical Services department at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), to discuss lithium-ion batteries. 🔋

From powering our everyday devices like our cell phones, laptops, e-bikes, and more, lithium-ion batteries are everywhere. ⚠️ But do you know the warning signs of battery fires? Or how to sta...

In this special episode of Girls with Grafts, hosts Amber Wilcox and Rachel Kudlak sit down for a light-hearted conversation! 💛 They share their personal burn survivor stories and the creation of Girl with Grafts. With their burnaversaries happening this week, they reflect on how far they’ve come and how they are celebrating—Rachel with a home-cooked meal today and Amber with an Easter Egg Hunt fundraiser in her local commun...

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, we sit down with Lee Hoff and Morgan Moore, the dynamic duo behind Morgan & Moore Non-Surgical Hair Replacement and Inclusive Crowns, to discuss their mission to provide hope, healing, and holistic support through cranial prostheses and hair loss solutions. 💛 Lee and Morgan share the heartfelt inspiration behind their business and nonprofit, their journey in the world of hair restora...

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, we sit down with Dr. Victoria Miles to explore the fascinating and complex world of hypermetabolism—the body's heightened metabolic response after a burn injury. 🚑 Dr. Miles, who started her career as a paramedic, shares how her experience in emergency medicine shaped her approach to burn care and patient recovery. 

We dive into nutrition's critical role in healing, i...

In our latest episode of Girls with Grafts, we sit down with burn survivor, massage therapist, and instructor Jen Hartley to explore the transformative power of touch in scar healing. Jen opens up about her personal burn injury and how it led her to a career in massage therapy. 💆 She shares insights into her massage therapy business, the different types of scars she works with, and the key differences between burn scar massa...

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel and Amber sit down with Dr. Shaun Mendenhall, a board-certified hand and plastic surgeon specializing in pediatric burn care and reconstructive surgery. 🩺 Dr. Mendenhall shares his journey in burn care, balancing patient treatment, teaching, and research while advancing surgical techniques that transform lives.

Together, we explore the challenges of hand mobility and f...

In this powerful episode of Girls with Grafts, Amber and Rachel sit down with Crystal Raye, a self-inflicted burn survivor, to explore her incredible journey of healing and growth. 🫶 Crystal opens up about her struggles with substance abuse, the importance of being honest with herself on the road to recovery, and turning pain into purpose.

Together, we dive into how Crystal found her tribe within the burn communi...

Welcome to the season six premiere of the Girls with Grafts podcast! This episode features an inspiring and heartfelt conversation with the incredible Danette Haag. 🩷 Burned at the age of 10, Danette opens up about her journey getting to where she is today, sharing how she internalized her pain and trauma while ultimately learning to love herself and embrace her beauty from within.

Danette's story is a testament to resilience a...

In our last episode of Season 6 of Girls with Grafts, Rachel and Amber sit down with Cat Eustace, a dedicated burn care professional and current Outpatient Burn Clinic Supervisor. We start our conversation by learning how Cat got involved in burn care and how her love for our community has developed over the years. 🏥❤️

Together, and thanks to today's podcast sponsor, Mölnlycke Health Care, we delve into the art and science of b...

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, we’re honored to sit down with Dr. Tam Pham, the Program Director at the University of Washington Medicine Regional Burn Center. Dr. Pham opens up about his personal journey when he sustained a burn as a young child. Rachel and Dr. Pham discuss the topic of imposter syndrome among some burn survivors and caregivers, highlighting that while we may not all have physical scars, we do all car...

In today's episode of Girls with Graft, we’re honored to feature Alexi Pyles—a burn survivor, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Alexi's journey began halfway around the world when she was just six months old, and her experiences have fueled a lifelong passion for helping others.

Join us as we dive into Alexi's career as a therapist, her inval...

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, host Rachel sits down with Raj Arora, CEO of Jensen Hughes, to delve into the inspiring new partnership between Jensen Hughes and the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Raj begins by sharing his professional journey in the fire engineering industry and what drew him to this critical field. He also recounts his impactful first connection with the Phoenix Society, including a transformativ...

In this heartfelt episode, Rachel and Amber sit down with Kimaree Lewis, the resilient mother of a burn survivor, to hear her powerful story of navigating trauma, healing, and hope. Kimaree opens up about the day her family's life changed forever, her son and family's emotional and physical challenges, and how her family's faith got them through the toughest times.

Join us as Kimaree shares insights o...