Jorja Sharp

Curious Jorja Sharp was 19 months old when she investigated a freshly poured piping cup of tea. It spilt down her neck and chest. She was rushed by ambulance to the Burns Unit at Kidz First Hospital for the first of several operations and a series of steroid injections to reduce the scarring from her third degree burns.

Her mother Louise recalls that the day her bandages came off she thought that Jorja looked like a patchwork quilt. She will need further surgery to remove thickened scar tissue in the future.

She was a bit of a celebrity at the hospital after taking part in studies regarding new treatment for scar management. Many years ago Cure Kids funded research led by Dermatologist Nick Burchill who developed a method of growing skin the size of a postage stamp to over 1 metre. This skin is used to reduce burns scarring by up to 30%. As a result of this research a National Skin Bank was set up and continues today. As 70% of all children admitted to hospital who suffer burns are under 3, Cure Kids is very proud to be able to make a difference to the success of their treatment.

Jorja’s parents are not too sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but they are doing all they can, with the help of Cure Kids, to make sure she is a confident girl who won't let her scars affect her life.