"At nearly two years old, my daughter Terri was involved in a serious house fire. She suffered burns to more than 85% of her body.

Being in hospital for eight months with her, I saw many people admitted with burns. I did not realise until then just how many people suffered burns, or that half of them were young children.

One of the hardest things to come to terms with was the way people looked at us. They seemed to see only her scars and Terri is obviously sensitive to this. People with burns can become outcasts just because they look different. It's difficult to convince others that, whatever a burns victim looks like, they are still normal inside!

When we were in hospital I received very little outside help in dealing with what had happened. When I tried to find out more information there seemed to be very little. There should be more social and psychological support, because this could be the start of a new life for the families involved.

Perhaps, above all else, new research is very important. The doctors tried a new 'skin' on Terri and it really improved her scars."