Accidents can happen to anyone. On April 6, 2021, the worst happened while Henri and his twin brother Renaud were sitting at the kitchen island, making oatmeal while their mom helped their younger sibling get dressed for school. Boiling water from the kettle spilled mostly on Henri, covering over 30% of his body with severe second-degree burns. 

Rushed to emergency and hospitalized for more than three weeks at Montreal Children’s Hospital, Henri was put into an artificial coma. Three surgeries were required, including one skin graft.

After being discharged from the hospital, Henri spent the next three months doing daily occupational therapy and physiotherapy to regain flexibility, learn to walk, climb the stairs and become independent again.

Back at home, Henri experienced moments of profound despair. Treatments were long. He had to wear compression garments around the clock and have his burn scars massaged twice a day, every day, to keep his skin supple and flexible, which had a huge impact on his day-to-day life. Consequently, he had to learn to be tolerant, patient and have hope. 

“I had to stop my swimming lessons, my piano lessons and my soccer practices after the accident. I was anxious to regain the use of my fingers and was worried I wouldn’t be able to play my piano pieces again,” says Henri.

After three years of medical follow-ups, Henri is now free to do whatever he likes. Active, athletic, musically minded, a caring older brother and avid reader, he is now able to talk about the accident. For a long time, he was concerned with keeping his scars hidden, but now he says, “Today is different, and I think about it a lot less.”