Where Scars Become Stories: Warrior Scar Jewelry Workshop and Post Traumatic Growth at World Burn Congress by Christopher and Holly Gage
- Holly Gage
- Feb 14
- 8 min read
Linda Palmer’s Bracelet
Kodi McDonald’s Pendant
Lily Chatterjee’s Pendant
Imagine a culture where everyone is accepted exactly as they are. Where imperfections aren’t hidden or judged, but honored. Where empathy, kindness, and care are not rare qualities but something you can feel in the air you breathe. That is the culture we experienced — and helped co-create — during the Warrior Scar Jewelry Workshop at the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors World Burn Congress this year. For a few powerful days, we were surrounded by people who understood one another, a precious gift of belonging that is hard to articulate. Christopher and I returned home from this deeply profound experience with so much to process, and even more to carry forward.
The Warrior Scar Jewelry Workshop invites burn survivors and caregivers into a creative space where scars are not something to cover, but something to honor and transform. Using Precious Silver Metal Clay, a high-tech soft moldable metal, participants ultimately capture the texture of their own scars to create jewelry — pendants, hearts, bracelets, and earrings. Each piece becomes a tangible expression of survival, resilience, and meaning. This process opens the door to conversations about identity, healing, and Post Traumatic Growth, reaching beyond mere survival to growth in ways that are initially unimaginable.
We spent the day in a room overlooking the scenic Ohio River and the Cincinnati skyline, learning techniques suitable for all skill levels to create jewelry. The process involves molding the scars with a non-toxic material, pressing the Silver Metal Clay into the mold, and shaping it. Art expression is used as a powerful part of traumatic recovery. The time spent creating alongside other burn survivors fostered connection and camaraderie. It became a time of making and working through their inner thoughts and feelings, with many adding an inscription reflecting them right on the surface of the jewelry.
We took a break for our group discussion while their jewelry pieces were in the kiln, transforming them into solid Fine Silver wearable pieces they could all take home. What a perfect metaphor for the transformation taking place in the room.
Before we began, we paused for a moment of celebration. Everyone grabbed a handful of sequins and tossed them into the air. They came raining down in a joyful burst of color, and without hesitation, Linda Palmer, Lily Chatterjee, and Kodi McDonald dropped to the floor and began making sequin “snow angels.” Laughter filled the room. It was spontaneous, playful, and magically memorable.
That lightness carried us gently into deeper discussion. Christopher opened the group by sharing his burn story, setting the tone with honesty and vulnerability. He even showed his scars — something that doesn’t come easily for him — and in doing so, gave others permission to share intimate stories of pain, struggle, recovery, and triumph. We cried. We laughed. We listened. Again and again, the theme of Post Traumatic Growth emerged: recognizing how far each person has come and how adversity, while a part of everyone’s story, became the catalyst for a new way of moving forward.
Linda Palmer shared how meaningful the experience was for her:
“The piece I made is a testament to my story and how I was able to share it with friends in such a safe and loving way. I’m truly honored to have met you all.”
Linda now raises funds and makes cozy fleece blankets for burn survivors — a true security blanket for those struggling with temperature regulation after injury. Watching how many of our participants give back to others is one of the most humbling parts of this work.
Melissa Ann Zapata created a bracelet engraved with a powerful message of acceptance. After hearing Christopher speak about his own journey through Post Traumatic Growth, she reflected on how her accident shifted her perspective on life — how painful change sometimes opens the door to becoming a better, more awake version of yourself. Her warmth and honesty resonated deeply with the group.
Crystal Raye captured the heart of the experience beautifully when she wrote:
“I walked in thinking it would be a fun creative session. I walked out feeling accepted, understood, and deeply connected… You gave us more than a workshop. You gave us healing, connection, and beautiful memories to carry forever.”
For many, this workshop set the tone for the entire conference — a reminder that no one walks this journey alone. Some of the stories that stay with us the longest are those of people who were burned at such a young age. They barely knew life without scars as it is woven into their earliest sense of self. And yet, again and again, these warriors show us what resilience, adaptation, and Post Traumatic Growth can look like over a lifetime.
Clinton Richter, for example, was burned when he was just a toddler. Standing next to him, he shared openly about the challenges of growing up with burns, especially during the already complicated years of being a teenager. He eventually found his tribe through football, and a team that embraced him, supported him, and gave him a place where he belonged. He boldly shares his story to inspire others to love themselves.
Christopher Cayo (C.J.), also burned as a child, has learned, and taught us, as well that family doesn’t always come from blood. Sometimes it comes from the people who choose you, stand by you, and love you without conditions. In his case, that person was a social worker he lovingly refers to as “mom.” Despite losing several fingers due to the severity of his burns, C.J. worked with Silver Metal Clay with incredible skill and focus. His dexterity was remarkable — honestly, we were all amazed. After the workshop, C.J. gave “mom” the pendant he made, saying simply, “I don’t need it; I’m wearing my scars.” She was beaming, proudly showing it to everyone, while bringing tears to her eyes when doing so.
Burned at a young age, Stacy Parrish Moore turned her lived experience into advocacy as the founder of Through The Flames, supporting young burn survivors and their families. Her insight continues to deepen as she seeks to understand not only survivors’ journeys, but the emotional weight caregivers carry as well. Her reflection and gratitude toward her mother spoke volumes. These stories are a powerful example of Post Traumatic Growth and that when trauma happens early in life, the journey is long, but so is the capacity for growth, connection, and meaning. These are the stories that continue to shape how we hold space in the Warrior Scar Jewelry Workshop, and why this work matters so deeply.
Caregivers were welcomed into the space as well, because healing never happens in isolation. Chassidy Helms attended with her husband, Mike. Their love, strength, and joy — including the excitement of welcoming a new baby shortly — felt like a living embodiment of Post Traumatic Growth.
Kodi McDonald, just sixteen, attended with her father, Shane. They worked quietly side by
side, molding Kodi’s scars into jewelry, a large pendant for him and a smaller one for her. Their bond was unmistakable. When Kodi shared her story, Jennifer Roche, another survivor, gifted her a bracelet she had received early in her own recovery — a moment of generosity that moved all the survivors in the room.
Jennifer is a military gal. You may think that her incident happened while proudly serving, but it happened a year ago. This was her first time at a gathering with other survivors, and we were so happy to see all the friendships she made from the class and conference. In the workshop she created a butterfly, symbolizing transformation and rebirth, and spoke about how meaningful it was to find connection after the isolation that so often follows a burn.
Vanessa Rossi was only 7 when burned 35% of her body. She now leads a burn support group in Pittsburgh -- wow! This comment still echoes with us:
“You are all part of our story, and now we are part of each other’s. Our connection is a beautiful thing.”
Deb Bateman, experienced electrical burns due to a work injury. Electrical burns are different, 12,900v going through her body, as well as external burns due to the flames. 50% of her body was affected. A cool fact about Deb is she is now a SOAR Peer Support for other survivors. Deb told us she still speaks to several members of our Workshop group and revealed they shared the same experience in that they all are still wearing their jewelry and have not taken it off yet. In Deb’s case a big beautiful large heart of her Warrior Scars. Again and again, we witnessed resilience, compassion, and the deep human need to belong. This workshop would not have been possible without the generosity of many who donated scholarships, tools, supplies, Metal Clay, and time. A heartfelt thank-you to Katie Baum, President of Art Clay World, who volunteered her time during class. The support and generous donations make these workshops possible. Their belief in this work directly fuels future healing.
For a brief window of time, we lived inside a culture where scars were not something to hide, but something to honor. Where others held precious space for tender stories with loving care. Where healing was shared, not rushed. The jewelry created was never just about making something pretty, it was meaningful and represented resilience and healing you could see and hold. The experience was a reminder that growth can rise from even the most painful experiences — and that connection makes all the difference.When Clinton said,
“The class was amazing and the stories were heart warming and life changing, you guys have so much compassion and love to whoever walk through the door, you’re there with open arms and an open heart,”
We, at Healing Phoenix Arts, feel honored and compelled to live up to that promise.
Christopher and Holly Gage are the co-founders of the Healing Phoenix Arts Program and the creators of the Warrior Scar Jewelry workshops, where they guide participants through healing and growth after a burn trauma. Holly, a world-renowned jewelry artist with nearly 25 years of experience, leads creative workshops in-person and online, sharing her soulful approach to art with students of all ages and abilities. She is a Phoenix Society SOAR peer supporter, and holds an Art Therapy Practitioner Certification. Christopher, a burn survivor, serves as the Group Discussion Facilitator, drawing on his personal recovery journey following a life-altering explosion and fire in 2018. Christopher is a certified Access Bars® Energy Healer. Both are certified in Post Traumatic Growth, and together they combine art and guided discussion to support others in their healing journeys. Their work is rooted in empathy, hope, and the belief that creativity can be a powerful tool for post-trauma transformation. To learn more about Healing Phoenix Arts, to have a Warrior Scar Jewelry Workshop, Retreat, or to Sponsor an event, go to: HealingPhoenixArts.org or call 717-917 -2358
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