One woman’s powerful journey of burn recovery

When Alisia woke up in the Ascension Columbia St. Mary's - Regional Burn Center on June 17, 2024, she was surrounded by voices: steady, calm and reassuring. “You’re at the hospital. You’re safe. We’re here,” her care team told her gently.

For 21 days, Alisia, a Michigan resident, had been in a medically-induced coma. After suffering burns to almost the entire upper half of her body, she was taken by helicopter to Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s - Milwaukee, which has the only verified burn center in Southeastern Wisconsin. Upon her arrival, the burn center care team started working around the clock to save her life. 

Safety and care after a coma 

When she first awoke from her coma, Alisia couldn’t speak or even drink water. “I remember being so thirsty that I dreamed about water,” she said with a laugh. “I was dreaming of Dr. Pepper! But I couldn’t say anything, I couldn’t even tell anyone what I needed.”

Those first days were filled with confusion, exhaustion and intense pain as Alisia began the initial healing process. What broke through her fear, Alisia recalled, was compassion. “The people who cared for me–they were the best parts of what people can be. Their compassion was constant. They treated me like a human being, not a patient.”

Personalized treatment for severe burns

Over the next three months, Alisia underwent multiple surgeries and extensive skin grafts. She lost parts of her fingers and her nose from the burns, and faced the emotional challenge of learning to recognize herself again. She also needed intense physical and occupational therapy to regain even the most basic of functions. Through it all, she says the care team’s support made all the difference.

“There was one nurse, Chelsea, who’s also a burn survivor,” Alisia said. “One morning, she brought me a coffee, an iced vanilla latte. It might seem small, but that moment meant everything. She made me feel seen. I thought, if I make it through this, I can be like her someday.” Alisia still lights up when she talks about the staff who cared for her. “The staff even celebrated my birthday and brought in cupcakes,” she recalled, smiling. 

Moments like these are what Alisia will never forget about her time at the Burn Center: acts of compassion that reminded her she was surrounded by people who genuinely cared.

Advanced burn care through collaboration

Alisia’s personalized care team included surgeons, nurses, respiratory therapists and physical and occupational therapists who all worked together to restore not only her body, but her sense of hope. “They chose to show up every day to do what they do. They could be anywhere, but they choose to save lives. That’s pretty amazing,” she reflected.

After three months in the hospital and weeks of additional therapy, Alisia was discharged in September 2024. The transition was emotional. “Physically, I could handle it,” she said. “The emotional healing - that was the real work.”

Starting a new chapter

Through therapy, recovery meetings and reconnecting with loved ones, Alisia began rebuilding her life. She’s now pursuing a degree in social work and behavioral science, hoping to support others who are walking through darkness toward healing. “Before all of this, I thought I knew what resilience meant,” she said. “Now, I know I can survive anything. I’m not afraid anymore. I’m rediscovering life, learning who I am, learning to be comfortable in my own skin. Literally.”

When asked what she wants people to know about the Ascension Columbia St. Mary's - Regional Burn Center, Alisia didn’t hesitate. “They saved my life. Every single person there made the choice to care, to be kind, to be patient, to help me heal. I wouldn’t be here without them.” 

Alisia’s message to others is the following: “There is always a way through difficult times, and there are people, like the ones at Ascension, who will walk that road with you.” 

To learn more about the Ascension Columbia St. Mary's - Regional Burn Center, click here.