{"id":8199,"date":"2026-07-09T10:37:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fondationduchum.com\/?post_type=testimonial&p=8199"},"modified":"2026-07-09T11:29:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T15:29:50","slug":"au-dela-des-cicatrices-decouvrez-le-combat-de-melanie","status":"publish","type":"testimonial","link":"https:\/\/fondationduchum.com\/en\/why-give\/your-testimonials\/au-dela-des-cicatrices-decouvrez-le-combat-de-melanie\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the scars: discover Melanie’s journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

A Gathering Among Friends Turns\u00a0Into\u00a0a Tragedy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In August 2020,\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0Lapointe\u2019s life changed in a matter of seconds during an evening with friends at a cottage. What was meant to be a warm gathering filled with cherished memories turned into a serious household accident.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

The group had organized a traditional beef fondue in honour of a friend\u2019s mother, who had passed away earlier that year. Suddenly, the hot oil caught fire. In the confusion and panic that followed, a series of events led to a devastating accident: the fondue pot tipped over onto\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0as she rushed to open the cottage door. The burning oil soaked through her clothing and severely burned the backs of her legs, her\u00a0buttocks\u00a0and her ankles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00ab\u00a0When I fell, I screamed.<\/em>\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Seeking relief,\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0ran to the nearby lake and jumped into the water. It was then that she realized how serious her injuries were.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00ab\u00a0I could feel my skin floating in the water,<\/em>\u00a0\u00bb she remembers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Most of her burns were third-degree burns. Some even reached the tendons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Specialized Care at the CHUM<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After receiving initial treatment at a regional hospital,\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0was transferred the following day to the CHUM\u2019s burn unit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For three weeks,\u00a0in the midst of\u00a0the COVID-19 pandemic, she received intensive specialized care. Her children, who were 13 and 11 years old at the time, were unable to visit her. Throughout her hospitalization, only three designated visitors were allowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One week after being admitted,\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0underwent skin graft surgery. Skin was taken from her back and thighs to treat the\u00a0areas\u00a0most severely affected by the burns. Alongside the surgery, she received daily wound care, antibiotics to prevent infection, pain management treatment and early mobility exercises to help her regain the ability to walk.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00ab\u00a0For the first few weeks, I stayed\u00a0pretty positive. But eventually, I hit a wall,<\/em>\u00a0\u00bb she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Small Acts of Kindness<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the medical treatments, what\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0remembers most is the compassion of the CHUM teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00ab\u00a0\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0extraordinary, so kind. They just want to help you.<\/em>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

With emotion, she recalls the small gestures that made a lasting difference throughout her stay. The nurses who reassured her when she worried about the odour caused by her healing wounds. The orderly who would take the time to wash her hair whenever he found a few spare minutes in his day. The young caregiver who brought essential oil and put a few drops on her hospital gown to help mask unpleasant smells during difficult moments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00ab\u00a0All those\u00a0little things\u00a0make such a difference. They help you get through something incredibly difficult.<\/em>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>

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Even during her most challenging days,\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0never felt alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Long Road to Recovery<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After being discharged from the hospital,\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u2019s\u00a0rehabilitation continued for\u00a0nearly six\u00a0months. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dressing changes,\u00a0massages\u00a0and treatments designed to soften scar tissue became part of her daily routine.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthcare professionals from the CHUM, community healthcare services and rehabilitation centres supported her every step of the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Despite the challenges,\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0also highlights the strength of her support network. During her hospitalization, her partner had to manage the family\u2019s day-to-day life on his own, while friends and loved ones stepped in to help whenever they could.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Reclaiming Her Life, One Step at a Time<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today,\u00a0nearly six\u00a0years after the accident,\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0has returned to an active lifestyle. A passionate CrossFit enthusiast and outdoor lover, she continues to stay active and enjoy the activities she loves.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00ab\u00a0Today, I\u2019m living my life thanks to the excellent care I received.<\/em>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Although the scars\u00a0remain, they no longer define who she is.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00ab\u00a0In my mind, I\u2019m no longer a burn survivor.<\/em>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For\u00a0M\u00e9lanie, her time at the CHUM will always be associated not only with medical\u00a0expertise, but also with extraordinary humanity. Through compassionate care and unwavering support, the teams who cared for her helped her regain her mobility, rebuild her confidence and, little by little, reclaim her life<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Would you also like to share your experience at or appreciation of the CHUM?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Fill out the form<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A Gathering Among Friends Turns\u00a0Into\u00a0a Tragedy In August 2020,\u00a0M\u00e9lanie\u00a0Lapointe\u2019s life changed in a matter of[…];<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":8503,"menu_order":0,"template":"","testimonial-category":[37],"class_list":["post-8199","testimonial","type-testimonial","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","testimonial-category-patients-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondationduchum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/testimonial\/8199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondationduchum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/testimonial"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondationduchum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/testimonial"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondationduchum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondationduchum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"testimonial-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondationduchum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/testimonial-category?post=8199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}