Lidia Pop

I was working in Restaurant in France with a friend of mine, when 3 guys wearing masks with bottles in their hands came in. That moment I realized something bad will happen. They started sprinkling everywhere and in a second I saw flames. They closed the door behind them and we were trapped inside.

We ran to the window, but the flames were too strong and it was too difficult for us to go out.

Then a guy come and help us. It all happened in 20 seconds. We managed to get out, but I couldn't feel my body anymore. I saw my best friend lying on the asphalt…motionless.

After those cruel images, I woke up in hospital with 89% burns, my fingers half amputated and finding out that my best friend had died in the attack. The worse moment in my entire life.

I found out that the accident happened because of the restaurant owner who had debts and who ran away, and we were the ones who suffered because of him.

Now, after 5 years, I’ve had 64 surgeries and still ongoing. I've been absorbing lessons like a sponge and adapting to many welcome changes.

Trauma sneaks up on you.

I thought I would've been over the trauma because of those surgeries, but it never gets easier. I’m just getting tougher and I understand my patterns and how to deal with them. I feel sad, anxious, grateful and happy at the same time. Is this real?

Now, I want to interact with people who have experienced trauma and who managed to cope with that.