While the burn victim will need a good deal of support and care during this time as they undergo treatment and surgery, it is common for the caregivers of these victims to find themselves without some of the emotional support they need. It can be difficult for parents, spouses, and other family members to handle the trauma of seeing their loved one in a burn unit and they need additional support to make it through.
In addition to needing some emotional support to help them during this time, many caregivers will need help with things like food, clothing, and travel to be there with their loved one. The Moonlight Fund for burn victims can provide all of the above services and more to caregivers of burn victims.
Many times, members of the Moonlight Fund will encourage the caregiver to take a step away and get out into the light. This can be one of the most difficult steps for caregivers, but when they are able to spend at least a little bit of time away from the burn unit during this situation, it can help improve their health. Something as simple as a walk outside, a luncheon, or a massage with the Moonlight Fund staff can be beneficial. And in 2017, the Moonlight Fund even introduced a new Caregivers Retreat Program.
The Moonlight Fund Retreat
While there are a number of ways that the Moonlight Fund is able to help burn victims and their families, one of the things that they organize that has been a big hit is the Moonlight Fund Retreat. This program was started in 2007, thanks to a request of one of the leading caseworkers at the BAMC burn unit.
At the time, the founders of the Moonlight Fund knew that they needed to come up with a retreat that would provide activities appropriate for burn victims as well as a chance for the attendees, as well as their families, to not only heal, but also to mingle with those who were going through the same thing at that time.
As a burn victim, it can feel very lonely. Few understand what is going on or are going through the same kind of experience. The idea of the retreat was to show some of the burn victims that they were not alone and to give them some support as they make it through this difficult time.
The Moonlight Fund chose Texas Hill Country for their retreat because they enjoyed some of the peace and quiet that this area afforded. When attendees arrive at the camp, there are set schedules to keep everything on time, but individuals can choose the activities that they are excited about trying or the ones that are most beneficial to their situation.
While the Moonlight Fund for burn victims has worked hard to develop a lot of different programs and levels of care for burn victims, many agree that it is the retreats that tend to offer the best healing for all burn survivors and their families.
For families who are working with the Moonlight Fund and would like to see whether the retreat is a good idea for them, there is a film called “Present Day” which will show more about what happens at the retreats, including some interviews and testimonials from those who have been able to attend.
