Burn survivor who didn’t leave home for 2 years now owns his own bakery – “I am more than how I look”

Trauma comes in many shapes and sizes. It can form a part of our personality, often causing us to be our worst enemy. One man has overcome the odds after surviving severe burns as a child. He grew up with scarring that deformed his appearance, impacting his confidence. After two years of being unable to walk out his front door, the burn survivor now owns a thriving bakery.

Ngo Quy Hai, a burn survivor

When 27-year-old Ngo Quy Hai was only five years old, he walked along with a baby walker. This was the day his life would be changed forever. As he was playing, he rolled himself into an open wood stove. He suffered severe burns, which ultimately changed his appearance forever.

Baby walkers are those things parents would put their toddlers in when they are learning to walk. The baby is seated in the material seat with their legs poking through holes. A plastic surface surrounds them for the baby to lean on, which is on wheels. the child can use their legs to push themselves around. According to Ngo Quy Hai, they are quite dangerous. But at the time of his injury, no one had really considered how much. “Baby walkers were common back then and there wasn’t knowledge about how dangerous they can be,” he said.

Ngo Quy Hai was rushed to the hospital after the incident. He was treated in the intensive care burn unit, and underwent many different procedures. Over the years, he had many reconstructive surgeries, but he was left with many deformations from the scars.

Excluded from society

Hai, the burn survivor, did not feel like society accepted him. his appearance was too shocking for many to deal with, especially the kids he grew up with. “I felt alone growing up and didn’t have many friends,” said Hai. “I felt ostracized from society. When I tried to find work, I was mocked and ridiculed.

Subsequently, Hai the burn survivor grew up with many insecurities from the constant feeling of being teased or made fun of. This led him down a destructive path where to isolated himself from the world. I didn’t leave my house at one point for almost two years,” he said.

Then, one day Hai met someone who inspired him to reach for his dreams. “Sometimes I think it is fate that brought us together. We’ve played together since we were very young and have experienced many joys and sorrows as we both shared the same sadness that no one wanted to play with us,” said Hai.

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A burn survivor’s inspiration

When the burn survivor was growing up, he and a friend were walking through town on one day. They passed by a bakery that tantalized their taste buds. They had to save their money in order to buy one of their treats, but they were kicked out because of their appearances. This sparked the idea of creating his own bakery.

“We were very poor so our clothes weren’t as fancy as some people’s and they didn’t listen to our explanation either. They chased us away,” said Hai. “It was humiliating. But it’s an experience that has made me who I am today. It made me know in my heart what I wanted to do. I was going to open up my own bakery so I could bake delicious and beautiful cakes and serve good food to everyone, whether they be rich or poor. I would not discriminate; everyone would be welcome.”

“There is more to me“

Many people in Hai’s position would have succumbed to depression, and struggled to elevate themselves. But, Hai has found a way to overcome the mental blocks of being a burn survivor, and lifted his spirits, and started a business. “Funnily enough, many times I’ve been in the hospital, I’ve seen people come in with more severe burns but they’re still optimistic,” he said. “I see myself now as being a lucky person. I am here now to help others. People may be better than me in luck, but I may be better in the effort.”