Burn Victim interview-Christian 

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story, Mark. If there’s one thing I hope people take away from this story, it is that the mind and body is a powerful and resilient machine. With hard work and determination, humans can do just about anything we set our minds to. However, there is (almost) never a pass for putting in the work. All my best to this community and those that may come across this interview!

This guy is the living embodiment of the phrase, "you can't keep a good man down." Much respect.

Christian is one of my good friends. Since the wreck I’ve never heard him complain one time. Has the best attitude of anyone I know. He definitely changed my outlook on life.

Being burnt is the most unbearable pain. It's the worst thing a person can experience. This man is a survivour. I wish him the best. He deserves it.

Man, the strength and clarity that Christian recounts his story with is amazing.

The fact that he remembers names and positions of everyone who helped him, is amazing.

Christian is actually a distant cousin of mine. We've never met and honestly he probably doesn't even know who I am, given the fact I grew up about 4 hours from where he did, but I remember when this happened and all the information of what was happening at the time was relayed to me by my father through the older family members on Christian's side of his family. Even though I know the story, it was great to hear the story from his perspective. It's crazy, I would have never thought I'd see him on SWU telling his story. Thank you, Christian and Mark, for this. And Christian, even though I knew you made it through this, it was great to see you tell your story, see you smile, and see you are doing so well now.

I’m a nurse getting ready for work while listening I’m tired and thank you for reminding me why I do this and the impact we all have on everyone we meet everyday! You are a gem!!! Thank you for using your life for good!!!

I've been extremely depressed these past few months, to the point where I've thought about suicide a few times. I was feeling pretty down today, but then I saw this video posted a few hours ago. Decided to give it a watch, and Christian's story really pulled me out of it. You can tell he's really come to terms with the reality of what happened to him, and he has such a positive attitude in the face of his adversity. I really admire that about him. When he was talking about the moment in the car when he nearly gave up, but snapped out of it and decided to fight for his life to get out of the car, that was incredibly inspiring. I think we all need to "kick the window and break the glass" in our own lives when we find the courage to do so. Thank you Christian for your story. You're a hero.

I also suffered from being badly burned in 1997. I had to stop the episode because I broke down crying from the memory of the debreeding process and remembering the angels in the burn unit. It took me 5 years or better to be able to talk about the experience after my recovery. I now realize that I still have unresolved PTSD. Thank you Christian for a bit of healing!

Stories like this are a helpful reminder on how much to be grateful for. Things can truly change in an instant

The way he referred to nearly everyone by name was absolutely beautiful. That's how you know there was a true connection and CARE from both sides. Absolutely inspiring. ❤

He sounds like a great guy who has been through a lot, I’m glad he survived.

I was a Burn Nurse for many years. Its nice to see someone who recovered leading a productive life again. ❤ One thing I learned working with burn patients is after a while you stop seeing the disfigurement and you just see the person's soul. It taught me that looks are not the most important thing. Many people hate their scars..but I always think.."It often means there is a really cool story" Never judge a book by it's cover.Burn Nurses don't always get to hear how patients do after they leave..but we do wonder if you are ok.

I’m going through multiple debridements and skin grafts these last few months and it can be extremely hard to stay positive.. his uplifting spirit is very inspiring ❤

“The worst thing you’ve been through, is the worst thing you’ve been through.” That makes SO much sense

What a lovely guy. Seriously, well spoken, doesn't swear, really positive. Good luck with everything mate, you're a tough cookie and there should be more people like you in the world!

The most striking virtue about Christian is that he expresses gratitude every step of the way for his care team , his family and supporters. He didn’t make this about himself (and he would have been perfectly justified to) but about the people who helped him back to recovery. I am humbled by his graciousness and humility.

What a lovely guy. Five minutes in and I didn't even notice the burns. He's so much more than those burns. Best wishes from Australia Christian 👍

I especially love stories like these of overcoming great difficulties in life. Truly inspiring

This was great. As a Firefighter i have seen some horrific burns both fatal and non fatal. We rarely get to see the outcome for the victims that survive or hear their story.

I once met a burn victim who was the only survivor of a gas oven blowing up. Her fiance and a mutual friend died. She had severe burns, lost all fingers, nose, ears... you name it. But when she entered the room it's like the sun rose. She had the most positive aura. Her story made me afraid of gas stoves for a very long time 😅😅

I'm an icu nurse who cares for these patients and it's so healing for me to hear him speak of his experience and see him coming through the other side. For us we see them when they are on the ventilator and when we are doing the burn care. They leave icu. We never see them again. I wander all these things he is talking about.. the BMS.. the dressings etc. and we can't ask them because they are in induced comas.. thank you for sharing this story. Treating them does leave a lasting effect on us. Hearing their story after recovery reassures me that all the thing we do for them round the clock was, and is, worth it, in the end. We made a difference.

He is a remarkable young man. He is so lucky to have a loving family to support him and be there for him. I really enjoyed his interview so much.

I was closing my eyes listening to Christian and at the exact moment I thought his positive attitude and outlook must really have helped facilitate healing on the cellular level.. Mark said: "Do you think your positive attitude somehow helped with your recovery? Wow...this was inspiring on so many levels Christian and I so appreciate you teaching to all of us about having empathy for others. Keep on doing your inspirational work especially if it involves you running for political office someday {now would be good!! } or helping others run for office. Mahalo.

What an amazing young man. I wish him nothing but the best life has to offer.

Considering what Christian went through and the severity of his injuries, he looks fantastic! His incredible journey is so inspirational, I am in awe of his gracious, gentlemanly attitude and such a positive vibe about him. I sincerely wish him much success in life and hope he has met the girl of his dreams!

Thank you Christian for sharing your story. Your strength, honesty and courage is inspirational.

What an amazing personality this man has. “Worse things have happened to better people” is kind of a morale booster I tell myself and this man is proof of that.

As a former LPTA, I so admire this young man & his appreciation for his care team! True, he had lots of outer support but the determination and hard work comes from within. My son Sam is also a Bama alum & in B'ham to become a PA. Christian reminds me of my son & I plan to share this video with him. What a testimony! Thank you, Christian!💙

My dad was a physical therapist and worked on burn patients. Something I will never forget as a kid because I went to work with him on weekends. My brother worked in a burn center and cared for Richard Pryor. I'm glad he got the care he needed to survive❤ Extremely touching story Mark.

He’s a great storyteller, very thorough. His strength and positive outlook is inspiring.

The exact same thing happened to me when I was 24, except it was a severe traumatic brain injury. I was pronounced dead. I experienced many the same things that this man did in his successful recovery. Listening to this story really took me back. The coma dreams, the learning everything again. Depending on people again. It seems true; having family and friend support, being young, and having a positive attitude really helped. From learning how to tie my shoes again and adding 2+2 to completing my masters in chemistry; was a long road.

Awesome, strong, transparent dude! The embodiment of strength! YOU ARE AMAZING!

Hi Mark, I have been following your channel for few years I reckon, I have never left a comment, but I had to leave one on this one, as I paused the video especially to type it out. This is the most amazing video I have seen so far! How great of a storyteller Christian is! He is a true example of a fighter and I have no idea but I had a lump in my throat all this while and tears! More power and Luck to Christian!

This guy is the epitome of “Your life is what you make it”! What a fantastic attitude he has! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I had $1000 stolen from my bank account yesterday. I was feeling super low…..not anymore. Wow. I could feel the pain as you told your story. I am so so grateful for what I have everyday but this morning even more. Thank you for this amazing story ❤

My 13-year-old daughter had an accident over the summer which led to severe chemical burns on her legs. She spent a month at a Shriners hospital undergoing skin graft surgery & recovery, and it was one of the most profound experiences of our family's lives. The entire process is incredibly painful in every sense of the word, but beautiful gifts have also come from the experience. Because we were staying in the hospital with her, we got to know many of the other burn patients, and they were some of the most amazing, wise young souls we've had the honor of meeting. Some of their stories were so horrific and traumatic, but their perspectives on life were admirable & so inspirational. The accident shifted my daughter's life perspective as well... she's become so much more self-aware, empathetic, and resilient. Although their lives will never be the same, there's a real appreciation and value for life that I don't think many others "get." What's truly important becomes apparent. And one other thing I wanted to say... the nurses and doctors that help these patients are literal angels. To do what they do and see what they see, oh my god. I cannot express enough how grateful I am to each and every one of them... the impact our daughter's nurses and doctors left on our lives is indescribable & we'll forever be grateful. To Christian: you are such a brave, beautiful young man. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope people will hear your words & fight for their best lives the way you have.

Omg Christian, you are a true warrior. I’m so impressed with you and your attitude. You’re an inspiration to the world. I’m in New Orleans and my husband was electrocuted by a power line when he was younger. He had about 45% of his body burned including his scalp. You remind me of a younger version of him. You two are unbelievable humans and I truly admire you both. Truly miraculous indeed. God bless you and keep you safe.

Beautiful person , both inside and out …. The world needs more people like him

He’s a good looking guy with such an amazing attitude. Even while he was in that car he had a good attitude. So proud of you! I was in the hospital for 3 months from an “accident”. It’s hard. ❤

Mark. Mark. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm a 20 years ICU. RN. You are exactly what we call a resilient patient. And you survived beyond all odds. Part of of this is because of your body, but a much larger part is because of your will to live , and your family support. These make a tremendous difference, as most of us know. You are the patient that we tell stories about and our raised on our arms and backs of our heads as we speak of you, because people like you are one of the reasons we are nurses! I wasn't ever a burn nurse, where I lived was just too far away from my state's level 1 center. We were a level 2 trauma center and when patients came in with a poor prognosis, and they recovered, the feeling for us nurses was so intense. In that way, YOU become OUR heros. I hope someday has told you this already. Thank you for all the details about your treatment;.as a nurse it was important to me. Bless you and your wonderful family. It's great to hear how you've emotionally recovered also. ❤

*This recount of events that permanently changed his life are riveting. Amazing person and storytelling. Powerful young man*

He's so blessed to have had the ppl and opportunities to help him heal up as good as he has. 😊

Wow. The strength to hold on and do the work seems unimaginable. Great interview!

What an amazing man, and how he talks so so clear and positive, wow

Another great interview Mark. I'm always blown away of the topics of your interviews. This guys is beyond amazing. Very intelligent and well spoken.he is someone to look at for inspiration . His attitude is contagious. Thank you again Mark for all the good you do.

To put a more positive spin on it, we could call him a "burn survivor".

I'll watch this tomorrow, but just wanted to say how much I'm enjoying the variety of guests you've been interviewing. They're all interesting. 😊

Great interview! So glad he's here to tell his story 💙 God bless him!! 🙏

What a strong and resilient man

It was fascinating to hear about all the medical procedures he was subjected to but what he didn't touch on as much is the aftermath of getting stared at on a daily basis and having to adapt to a new way of life. He's so easy to listen to and has such a great attitude ( lucky or unlucky? Lucky ! ) that it just blows me away ..

What a beautiful soul. He is an inspiration and anyone who has had a terrible sunburn knows how much it can sting/hurt, but nothing like what he experienced. What a brave, strong young man. Just a refreshing human being to watch, thank you for sharing Christian.

It seems to me that this accident took Christian into a fast forward in the experience of life. I think normally people only reach this point of wisdom and clarity when they’re growing old. Patience, empathy, great insights and gratitude. This is a perfect wake up call for all of us to have a good look at our own life and be thankful for so many things and pause every now and then. Thank you Christian, and Mark. And all the best to you.

Thank you for sharing your story! I’m an RN at a burn ICU and my favorite part of working burns vs other ICU units is seeing our patients get better. Your story is incredible especially considering how long you went initially without any debridement. Thank you again for sharing this, you are so brave. ♥️

I have a wound that I have to have debried next Monday and I am terrified because it’s so painful to even change the dressing daily. You give me perspective and strength in my journey. I can’t imagine the pain that you have went through. Bless you 💞💞💞💞

Wow, what a resilient young man. I had no idea about all of the medical technology for burn trauma, learned a lot from him too.

4.94 million subscribers - DOOOOOOOD! Your hard work has paid off and most importantly these amazing interviews are reaching a wide audience and really touching people in a very positive way.

Perfect example of how a great attitude and determination can manifest healing inside and out. Family support is so important he is so right.

When he said “the worst thing you’ve ever been through is the worst thing you’ve ever been through” that hit me so hard. I’ve said that before to myself. I’ve tried to understand others and help others close to me understand humanity through that lense. So glad to hear that.

Really love Christian's perspective and outlook on life. He's so kind and grateful. This was an inspiring story of recovery and empathy, thank you for sharing!

I was burned by sulfuric acid when I was 10. I would like to say it was an accident, unfortunately I cannot. Im not sure if it was a matter of race or sex but this girl did not like me at all. I’ll say, it’s probably the great pain and traumatic experience I’ve ever dealt with. Im super proud of hour far this man has come and how positive he is. Thank you for this episode guys and stay strong friend.

The positivity is flowing through this man, he must be amazing to be around!

A friend of mine in 2008, was the sole surviver of a plane crash a couple years later... she had a similar story... i hope youve had access to survivors, and thank you for sharing your story❤ it is inspiring for any one experiencing a life altering change.

Christian is a very strong, inspiring human being. This was a great interview. I love how he gives so much credit to his family, the care team, his friends and everyone else who helped support him during such a difficult time in his life.

He is a superb human being. A man that any young man can emulate and follow...a glimpse into how a person lives thru a trauma like this.. mad respect to you

What a great guy. Ive learned a lot of things from this interview. He's going to go far in life.

Hands down, best interview!! Love this guy! ❤❤❤ Thank you for sharing your story with us.

This young man definitely is a blessing.

Wishing this amazingly strong young man nothing but love, happiness and success in his future.

God bless you, Christian. Your enthusiasm is awesome!

This is one of the most beautiful interviews I have listened to! Christian you have such an incredible story of bouncing back and rebuilding your life. Your life's perspective is beautiful. Thanks Mark for sharing this story.

I love his talk about the worst thing you've been through is the worse. That's something I always try to spread. Pain and grief is like a gas vapor, it fills the volume of it's container. That's a broken quote from a Holocaust survivor. It's so true.

This guy is AWESOME. What a positive attitude

my friend just passed away in a burning car. he couldnt get out. this is a real and horrifying thing that happens. my heart goes out to this man for surviving such a scary situation.

My uncle was a burn victim and treated in Birmingham as well- most excruciating healing process of his life-‘and unfortunately the graph and hot baths that go with the healing were traumatic at best for him - he’s alive today !

Man, what great guy: more people should be like him. He suffered a great injury and persevered. Best of luck to this guy.

Great interview Mark. So glad this young man made it. I know how much just a little burn, such as the oven when your taking something out you cooked, my heart hurts for people like this young man, who have so many burns. And when i found out these poor burn victims have to have their burns scrubbed over and over, i can't even begin to imagine the hell they go through. My heart goes out to every person who has ever had to go through this. Wishing the best life has to offer to this man and his wonderful, loving and supporting family.

I used to work in a burn center. It was the most difficult and traumatic units I ever worked in. The healing process of burn patients is so hard to see, so incredibly painful for these people. It’s a miracle he is walking and doing well today.

What a Inspirational young man! So courageous, So Strong but a bright light for the future! I remember being a young teenager and my mother telling me her brother (my uncle) had been set on fire and he literally crawled outside to the next apartment for help. He was transferred to a burn unit and wasn’t there very long before he passed away. I always thought what a awful way to go. But this young man gives hope, faith and strength in moving forward! Thank You so much for sharing your story. 🙏🏻💙🙏🏻

Wow, this dude has done the inner work and lives unabashedly.....much respect!!!

Learning alot from your content lately. Thank you again mark!

I was burnt at the age of 11 months. Had 3rd degree burns on 20% of my body. Don't remember much of it, but so many scars to talk about. This guy is a trooper!

Working in a level trauma 1 hospital, I have seen quite a few burn victims. The ones I saw did not survive and were in a medical induced coma. The conditions of their rooms and the extreme care they needed prompted me to learn more. Like, why did the room have to be hot, what was donor skin used for, what did they need to heal, etc. They must be the sickest of all patients. It is honestly a miracle that anyone survives. Their care is so long and tedious. It's incredible on both the caregivers side and the patient's. This guest was such a ray of light. He is quite handsome and deserves so much more than the silly "swipe right or left" mentality we see in our often superficial society. Great episode.

This was so heartwarming, loving, and inspiring. Thank you Christian for sharing your story and thank you too, Mark. We need more people like Christian.

“The most important thing is to have empathy for other people. “ I’m so happy that he said that. He lead a very privileged life and then this happened. He had access to doctors and resources most people would not but that being said we can see how appreciative he is of all these things. He seems kind and honest. Obviously he understands that we are not these skin suits we wear but something much deeper and more profound. Thank you Mark for allowing this beautiful soul to share his light with us 🙏🏽

Such a beautiful story! He’s truly an inspiration. Makes me appreciate my life no matter how rough I’ve had it.

I love this guy! What a nice, polite and respectful man. Thanks for sharing your life.

This is one of my favourite interviews to date and perfectly captures the reason I fell in love with the channel way back in the early days. Beautiful story, so glad you’re here to share it

I’m so so glad that he found a good woman because he seems like a amazing guy. Thanks for telling the story of your life and all the struggles you have overcome with grace, Much love from Lafayette, Louisiana❤️🥰😊

You are awesome, thanks for sharing your story with us.

I am also a burn survivor . Watching his story may be triggering to me so I shall watch as much as I can. ❤

Wow. This one was deep. Christian seems like hes full of positivity and his family and friend support speaks volumes. Also, those surgeons and doctors that healed him are absolute heroes! It’s astonishing to me how he looks now since what he described from the accident. Truly incredible and a very inspiring story. Thanks Mark and Christian!

Awesome interview! Thanks Mark

Wow. What a great story. Thanks for this interview Mark and Christian.

42:51 "The whole experience was really interesting!' Just baffled me.... Dear Christian I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge your incredible strength and resilience. Surviving a burn injury is an immense challenge, both physically and emotionally. Your ability to persevere and never give up is truly inspiring. Enduring such a traumatic experience requires an extraordinary amount of courage and determination. The journey to recovery can be long and arduous, but your unwavering spirit has carried you through. Your refusal to let the circumstances define you is a testament to your inner strength. Remember that healing is not just a physical process but also an emotional and mental one. It's okay to have moments of vulnerability and to seek support from others. Surround yourself with loved ones who can provide comfort and encouragement along the way. Your survival story serves as a beacon of hope for others facing their own challenges. Your resilience is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, it is possible to overcome and thrive. Your experience can inspire others to never give up and to find strength within themselves. Please know that you are not alone on this journey. Reach out to support groups, medical professionals, or counselors who can provide guidance and assistance. Your story has the power to make a difference, and your determination will continue to inspire those around you. Keep pushing forward, believing in yourself, and embracing the incredible strength that resides within you. Your resilience is a shining example of the human spirit's ability to triumph over adversity. Wishing you continued strength, healing, and a future filled with hope.

I cant even imagine how much pain you had to endure... And mental trama... And today you happy with a great positive mindset... Man i salute you.. Your a tuff hombre... Do you talk to kids who suffer burns ?.. I think you could do alot to. Help them in great way... Best wishes to you Christian

How important and valuable it is to be raised with love and support! I keep this in mind every day raising my kids. Many blessing for you!

He shares deep humility, empathy, hope and the courage to survive unimaginable painful challenges. God bless you Christian. ❤🙌🏻

Physical Therapist here and have worked on the burn units. Christian, you are the Most articulate, empathetic, intelligent and inspiring person who is So astute in your observations and so warm and generous in your manner, that you help others enormously … A Real Gentleman and very handsome too. Thank you! ❤️from Montreal