0:00:17 > 0:00:21I've been called "Voldemort" and "Witch", and stuff.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24They call me Baldy, No Hair Freak...
0:00:24 > 0:00:26"Oh, look, it's Chicken Skin."
0:00:26 > 0:00:30I'm Holly, and I get called horrid names, too.
0:00:30 > 0:00:35It's all because we look a bit different. But our bullies don't know what we've been through.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39When I was 20 months old, I was badly burned.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42There was a fire in our house and I was trapped.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45A cigarette lighter caught fire to my pyjamas.
0:00:45 > 0:00:50I pulled down the chip pan and it just went all over my head.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53I was also burnt by a chip pan.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57The scars from my burns have left me with bald patches.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59I've decided to show them to you,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02but normally, I hide them under my headband.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06To try and look like everyone else,
0:01:06 > 0:01:09I'm having special surgery to give me more hair.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12So people won't call me names.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14But whether my surgery works or not,
0:01:14 > 0:01:18making friends with other children who have been burnt
0:01:18 > 0:01:21will help me change the way I feel about myself.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29I live in Manchester with my mum and dad, my sister Jade,
0:01:29 > 0:01:34bothers Josh and Alex, as well as our two dogs, Taz and Kato.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38In almost every way, I'm just like any other 12-year-old,
0:01:38 > 0:01:41but my burn scars do make me look a bit different.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44My accident happened at home.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51The day of her accident... I was cooking in the kitchen.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56Me and my sister ran into the kitchen and we sat on the oven door.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00As she did so, she tilted the cooker, and the chip pan
0:02:00 > 0:02:04- fell off the cooker.- The chip pan fell on my head and my arm.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09Then I rang her nana. She said to put her in a cold bath, which I did.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14I bathed her down in the bath and then we rang for an ambulance.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16The ambulance took her to hospital.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19They didn't know how badly she'd been burnt,
0:02:19 > 0:02:21so it was very scary.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26My mum and dad said that I was very lucky to be alive,
0:02:26 > 0:02:30because the burns were really bad.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39An easy way to understand burns is by thinking of skin
0:02:39 > 0:02:42as an onion with lots of layers.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46The more serious a burn, the more layers of skin are damaged
0:02:46 > 0:02:49and that's when you can become very, very sick.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53All I can remember is my family used to come and see me every day
0:02:53 > 0:02:57and that I had quite a few operations.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Although it happened a long time ago, you can still see
0:03:01 > 0:03:05I had an accident, because my deep burns left me with scars.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07The chip pan burned my arm here.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12This one reminds me of a key, cos it's shaped like a key.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15And I got burned on my head.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Hair can't grow on a scar,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20which means I have bald patches on my head.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22My scars do bother me.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25It's even a big deal for me to show them to you.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30Because I look different, people sometimes stare or make fun of me,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33so I make sure I always cover my head.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36When I go outside, I don't really like people to look at it
0:03:36 > 0:03:39because they can say nasty things.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43If I put a headband on, people think there's nothing there.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45When I first started high school,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47I felt happy cos I could meet new people,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50but I also felt worried because I knew
0:03:50 > 0:03:54that somebody would say something about my head.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57People used to say that I had cancer
0:03:57 > 0:04:00and that I'm the girl who has bald patches,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02and it made me feel angry.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I'm not basically any different to them,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08it's just what I look like.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11But my three best friends are always there for me.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13It makes me sad when people bully her.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17I've known you since primary school, so I know what you've been through.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19It's sad that people call you names
0:04:19 > 0:04:24but they don't know what you've been through or anything about you.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27When people pick on you it makes me sad and angry,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31because they were upsetting you and I don't like seeing you upset.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33You can't learn when people are bullying you,
0:04:33 > 0:04:35cos it goes round in your head.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Instead of bullying you to find out about you,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41they should just ask. It's not like you bite. Well, you might.
0:04:41 > 0:04:42ALL LAUGH
0:04:42 > 0:04:45If it happens, I just walk away.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49There's no point staying, they'll just say something even meaner.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Being picked on because of how you look
0:04:53 > 0:04:55can really knock your confidence,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58but there's a place that tries to build it back up.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00It's called Burns Camp.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02- Are you looking forward to it?- Yep.
0:05:02 > 0:05:08- What are you looking forward to the most?- Climbing.- Climbing? What else?
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Manchester Fire Service and the same medical team
0:05:11 > 0:05:13who've looked after me since the accident
0:05:13 > 0:05:17help organise the Burns Camp I'm going to in the Lake District.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Today, I feel happy and excited because it's going to be really fun.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25You can be burnt on your face, arm, leg or your head
0:05:25 > 0:05:27and nobody will say anything.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31They know what everyone's been through so they won't pick on you.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34They'll have been through a similar situation.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Who am I meant to sit next to on the coach?
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Now we're about to set off, the idea of leaving my mum
0:05:41 > 0:05:43suddenly seems really scary.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Make your goodbyes now, then we'll
0:05:46 > 0:05:48take the kids down to the coach.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52Have a good time and don't be frightened.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01When we got here, I felt a bit homesick.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05- I miss home.- If you ever need someone to talk to
0:06:05 > 0:06:08all you have to do is come and talk to me.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10You're going to be all right.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14But as soon as we get going, my nerves are washed away.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Today's better cos I don't feel homesick.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22I'm sure we're going to have lots of fun this week.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Yeah!
0:06:24 > 0:06:27It goes right up to the ceiling.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30I'd give it a go but I think I'd only get halfway.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Climbing makes me feel strong and good about myself.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38But what goes up must come down.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42Hold on to the rope and let go. Just jump.
0:06:42 > 0:06:43SHE SCREAMS
0:06:43 > 0:06:45- See.- That was hard!
0:06:45 > 0:06:50It's great to talk to other children who know exactly how I feel.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52It can be a huge burn, or can't walk,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56or can't raise your arms, you're still all the same inside.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58To be treated differently is unfair.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Robert is 14 and he is from Accrington.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03When I was four years old,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06I accidentally set myself on fire with a cigarette lighter.
0:07:06 > 0:07:13I was burned from the top of my neck to the bottom of my chest
0:07:13 > 0:07:16and then, like, on my arms.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24People used to say, "Oh, look, it's Chicken Skin. It's Freddie Krueger."
0:07:24 > 0:07:25And then I'd get into fights.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30But after the first Burns Camp, I was probably less angry.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32It did change me.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36The older ones tell you to do this and that, and when you do it
0:07:36 > 0:07:38you don't get bullied as much.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41So it's been a lot easier since after Burns Camp.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47The best thing about camp is you can meet new people
0:07:47 > 0:07:50who've got the same burns as you, or different.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54That's Leeah from Liverpool. She's 11 and has scars
0:07:54 > 0:07:58just like me, but hers are hidden under her clothes.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59When I was seven years old,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02I got burned by a boiling hot pan of water...
0:08:02 > 0:08:05which was really painful.
0:08:07 > 0:08:13I remember when I got into hospital, I had freezing cold tea towels
0:08:13 > 0:08:17all over my chest, and it was all blistered and all red.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21I had an operation so they could cut the skin off the back of my leg
0:08:21 > 0:08:23and then place it onto my chest.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27I had about 160 stitches in my chest.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33When I see all my mates wearing dresses, it makes me feel left out,
0:08:33 > 0:08:37because I can't wear a dress in case it gets sunburned
0:08:37 > 0:08:39and I end up back in hospital.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42At Burns Camp, it's nice to meet all the different people
0:08:42 > 0:08:49who have the same problems as me, like scars in different places.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52No-one cares that I have a scar, they just want to be my friend
0:08:52 > 0:08:55and they treat me like normal people would.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01- I got mine when a chip pan fell on my head.- Same.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04The boy who had an accident just like mine
0:09:04 > 0:09:09is 11-year-old Harry who also lives in Manchester.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12When I was one-and-a-half, I pulled down the chip pan
0:09:12 > 0:09:14and it just went all over my head.
0:09:14 > 0:09:19It burnt right here. It's left loads of scars.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22People call me names because of my burns.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25They call me Baldy, No Hair Freak...
0:09:25 > 0:09:27It's just really frustrating.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29My burn doesn't affect me.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34It's not stopping me from doing dance or anything I love.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Burns Camp helped me a lot.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40You meet children who have similar burns to you, which is pretty cool.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48What's it like being the only one at school that's been burnt?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51- It feels kind of weird.- Yeah.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Especially in PE when you have to get changed and everyone's watching.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- You're like the odd one out at school.- Yeah.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03- But here you just feel...even. - Yeah.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08I feel more confident, because you know you're not the only one.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Although it's hard to live with scars,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14we all believe they have made us stronger.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Sometimes I feel proud of it,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20because I'm different to everybody else and I stand out.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23My burn doesn't affect me a lot,
0:10:23 > 0:10:28it's not stopping me from doing absolutely anything.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33I'm disappointed that my burns are where everyone can see them,
0:10:33 > 0:10:38but proud that they've probably changed me for the better.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Our burns show we've gone through something really difficult
0:10:42 > 0:10:43in our lives, and survived.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47So compared to that, gorge walking is easy-peasy.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52And what we do is climb over rocks and waterfalls.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Being at Burns Camp helps us take risks,
0:10:57 > 0:11:02like splashing camp leader Simon. He splashed me back!
0:11:03 > 0:11:05And I got very, very wet.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11The water was very, very cold.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13ALL SCREAM
0:11:15 > 0:11:20The week has flown by and I can't believe it's nearly time to go home.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Now I'm packed. Last sock in.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26I've had 100% a good time
0:11:26 > 0:11:31and I'm looking forward to come back next year.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33But there is one last thing to do.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37Each of us has written down a wish to hang on a special tree.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41If you all take one of the labels... It'll be somebody else's.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44You might be helping somebody else's wish come true.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47I wish my burns go away.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Even though we've had a great time here at Burns Camp,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58many of us still wish we just looked like everyone else.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03That's why I'm going to have surgery which I hope will give me extra hair
0:12:03 > 0:12:07to cover up some more of my bald patches.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11And I'll be happy because I'm going to be having more hair...
0:12:11 > 0:12:19and I want more hair because then I can feel more like everybody else.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Down in Worthing, 14-year-old Stefanie
0:12:22 > 0:12:26is having exactly the same surgery as me to give her more hair.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28I'm Stephanie. I'm 14 years old.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32I'm in Year 10 and in my spare time, I like to play pool with my dad.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41I was burnt on my arms, my face and part of my back.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47A fire broke out in our house and I was trapped
0:12:47 > 0:12:50and there was no way of me getting out.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55And then I remember my neighbour rescuing me with my dad.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58And I was wrapped in a blanket and then taken to hospital.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02And I was really ill and couldn't breathe on my own,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04so I had to have a ventilator.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07And I had a priest come in to say goodbye to me
0:13:07 > 0:13:10and welcome me to heaven.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Like me, Stephanie was a fighter and slowly got better.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18I spent ten weeks in hospital and had several skin grafts.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20We had to take the skin from my legs
0:13:20 > 0:13:22and put it onto my arms and back.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27But also like me, she's been bullied just because she looks different.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32People are mean because of the way I look, and they stare at me
0:13:32 > 0:13:36and they think that I'm some monster or something.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Since Stephanie was a toddler,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42she's had loads of operations to help her scars,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45including three to give her more hair
0:13:45 > 0:13:48using something called a tissue expander.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51The tissue expander is like a balloon.
0:13:51 > 0:13:57It's put under the skin on our head which is already hairy.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59The doctors fill the tissue expander
0:13:59 > 0:14:02with sterile water over a couple of months
0:14:02 > 0:14:05to stretch it until it gets really, really, really big,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08so there is more skin with hair on it.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12When it's as big as it can be, the doctors empty the balloon
0:14:12 > 0:14:16and then stretch the new hairy skin across some of our bald patches
0:14:16 > 0:14:18giving us more hair.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Stephanie's first tissue expander operation
0:14:21 > 0:14:24was when she was six years old.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Wow! See, I said our heads get really big.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30The second was when she was nine.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34Stephanie has just had another operation, and this time
0:14:34 > 0:14:38her surgeon has put three tissue expanders under her skin.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41My tissue expanders are there, there and over there.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45And they're going to get very big, so it should be, like, out here.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48So they're going to pull all my good hair forward to the front
0:14:48 > 0:14:51and it might give me a fringe.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56While Stephanie's balloons are getting bigger and bigger,
0:14:56 > 0:15:00I am bracing myself for my very own tissue expander operation.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Like Stephanie, I've had tissue expanders before.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07I had my first one when I was four years old,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11and I had another two during primary school.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Before I had a tissue expander,
0:15:13 > 0:15:20my hair was just a little strip through the middle and then down.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23I had one here...
0:15:23 > 0:15:25and it's full of hair now.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29And now they're putting one here so it covers this side.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33I'd like to have lots of hair and not just little bits.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38This will be my fourth tissue expander operation.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42And this time they're putting in two balloons.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45There is a downside, though. Burnt skin is delicate,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49so when my tissue expanders are in, I have to be very careful.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52And I'm not a fan of being careful.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55You know when you have your balloon put in next week,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59you won't be able to do that, go jumping off swings.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- Yeah.- Don't you?- Yeah.- And you have to be very careful with it.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07- So, hopefully, you'll get a lot more hair.- Yep!
0:16:07 > 0:16:11- What do you think? - Yeah...
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Lots.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27It's operation day. I have to get up really early.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29So early, even the sun isn't up yet.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34Holly, come on. Time to get up. We've got the hospital this morning.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37- Come on. - It's still dark.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Holly?
0:16:48 > 0:16:52It's good to have the operation, because I'll have more hair.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56And it's bad because...it hurts at first.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01OK. So what you having done today, Holly?
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- A tissue expander. - How did you burn yourself?
0:17:04 > 0:17:08- A chip pan fell on me. - When was that?
0:17:08 > 0:17:14- When I was 20 months old. - I bet that hurt. Can you remember?
0:17:14 > 0:17:17No, not really. Have you had lots of operations? Yeah.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24All ready to go. Yes!
0:17:24 > 0:17:28This is Dr Shah. She's been my surgeon since the accident,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31and she'll be putting the two tissue expanders under my skin.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34I'm going to expand this bit here.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38I'm going to try and put one in here and one on that side.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44They have to do my hair like this so it doesn't get in the way.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48I don't think this style will be catching on, do you?
0:17:48 > 0:17:49My hair's horrible.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Ouch!
0:17:54 > 0:17:56I'm ready to go to theatre now.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03I've never watched myself sleeping before.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Dr Shah draws on my head
0:18:05 > 0:18:09so she knows exactly where she's going to put my balloons...
0:18:09 > 0:18:12and then cuts the holes in my skin to squeeze them under.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15I can't feel a thing.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18All I have to do is sleep while Dr Shah works away,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21but operation day is always stressful for my mum.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Holly is still in theatre.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26I know they look after her and she's in safe hands,
0:18:26 > 0:18:30but I'm still really, really nervous when she's down there.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Back in theatre, it's time for the tissue expanders.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39Just a valve and that's the tissue expander and a connecting tube.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43What we'll be doing is removing the air from the tissue expander.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Once all the air had been squeezed out, Dr Shah tests my balloons
0:18:47 > 0:18:51to make sure they work by filling them up with sterile water.
0:18:51 > 0:18:57My balloons have passed the test, so it's time to put them under my skin.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59In goes one, sewn in snug.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Then another.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Another quick test... and we're done.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- Hi, there. - Hello.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12- Everything's gone OK.- OK.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14I'll see her in the morning and she'll go home.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16- See you later.- Bye.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20I am now very relieved to know that it all went well
0:19:20 > 0:19:23and she's in Recovery. I'm good now.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26I've just woken up and I don't feel very well,
0:19:26 > 0:19:29but I'm so glad to see my mum.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34Now I'm back home, I'm feeling much better even if I don't look it.
0:19:34 > 0:19:39Moving the skin at the top of my head to put the tissue expanders in
0:19:39 > 0:19:40has made my eyes all puffy.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44When I first came out of the operation I felt sick,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46but now I feel better.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48While MY balloons are settling in,
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Stephanie's may have to come out early.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Yesterday, I found out that one of my tissue expanders
0:19:55 > 0:19:57was trying to push through my skin
0:19:57 > 0:20:02and I may have to have an operation today, which I'm really scared about.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05That afternoon,
0:20:05 > 0:20:09Stephanie had to have all three of her balloons removed.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13The problem is our burnt skin is so fragile.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16When I was told I had to have my tissue expanders out,
0:20:16 > 0:20:20I was really upset cos I thought my whole operation was ruined
0:20:20 > 0:20:22and I started to cry.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24I wanted to be like everyone else,
0:20:24 > 0:20:29have different hairstyles and wear my hair up without looking bald.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32But after the operation, it didn't all go bad,
0:20:32 > 0:20:37I got some of my hair back and it's still growing back now.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Back in Manchester, it's time for me
0:20:40 > 0:20:44to start having MY balloons blown up.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48We're here so I can have my balloons filled.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52- Then my balloons can grow and then I get more hair.- How are you today?
0:20:52 > 0:20:58It's important to have more hair because... I can do more hairstyles.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02It will be good, as well, cos...
0:21:05 > 0:21:06..people won't call me names.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12But now there's a problem with MY tissue expanders.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15The wound has just opened up a little bit
0:21:15 > 0:21:18so we need to make sure that that heals properly
0:21:18 > 0:21:21before we can expand it.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Urgh!
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Can you see it? It looks horrible.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30The two holes in my head don't hurt, but they need to heal.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34So it's time for some dodgy-looking medicine. Looks like poo!
0:21:34 > 0:21:36SHE LAUGHS
0:21:40 > 0:21:42MONITOR BEEPS
0:21:42 > 0:21:46A month later, one of my balloons has to be taken out.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52My head felt wet, so we had to go to the A&E.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55They saw that it was badly infected
0:21:55 > 0:21:59and I had to get one of my balloons out.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Two weeks after having one of my tissue expanders removed,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Dr Shah is checking the remaining one.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12And if you expand it too soon,
0:22:12 > 0:22:15then the tissue expander will just break through.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18It is slow, but in the end, you're going to get there.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20And how do you feel about that?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- Good. - Good.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25It's not as fast as I thought it would be,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29because when I had the one in last time, they done it really fast,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32but they have to be careful in case they stretch the skin too much.
0:22:32 > 0:22:37It looks like I won't be getting any more hair any time soon.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40So although we've never met before,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43I've come all the way to Worthing on the south coast with my mum
0:22:43 > 0:22:48to talk to someone who understands exactly how I feel.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52- Hiya.- Hello. Nice to meet you. This is Stephanie.- This is Holly.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02Why is it important to you to have tissue expanders?
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Because I'd like to have more hair.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08When people called me names, I felt quite angry,
0:23:08 > 0:23:12so if I had more hair, they can't call me any more names.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16People have called me the Girl With Cancer, Baldy.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I've been called Witch and Monster.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21And once, one of my... she WAS my friend,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24she called me Voldomort from Harry Potter.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27How do you cope when people call you names?
0:23:27 > 0:23:31I just let them call me names because I think they're stupid.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35Why do you feel it's OK not to wear a headband?
0:23:35 > 0:23:37I used to wear hats when I was much younger,
0:23:37 > 0:23:41but I took them off after a while. I didn't think it was any different.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45People treat us like we're different, but we're not, are we?
0:23:45 > 0:23:48I don't think we're any different to anyone else.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52We just look a bit different and that's about it.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55BOTH LAUGH
0:23:59 > 0:24:01Stephanie was inspiring,
0:24:01 > 0:24:04because even though she was badly burnt on her head,
0:24:04 > 0:24:09she still goes out in public without a headband or anything
0:24:09 > 0:24:10to cover her head up.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12That made me think that she was brave.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18Even when we come to a busy place like this bowling alley,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Stephanie doesn't cover her scars.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26And she still has loads of fun.
0:24:26 > 0:24:27Yes!
0:24:31 > 0:24:34After the chat we had yesterday,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37I think, sometimes, I'll take my headband off.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42I think you should. You should be proud of who you are.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46This weekend, it was rally good talking to Holly about burns
0:24:46 > 0:24:49and bullying, because I had someone to talk to
0:24:49 > 0:24:51when I was younger, and I hope it really helped her.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55When we're back in Manchester, we'll keep in touch with Stephanie,
0:24:55 > 0:24:59because she's really strong and she doesn't let anybody put her down.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03When I first started my tissue expander adventure,
0:25:03 > 0:25:07having more hair seemed like the most important thing in the world,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09but since meeting Stephanie,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12I've learned not to let my bald patches hold me back.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Especially now I'm 13.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18It's my birthday.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Today, I'm having a pamper party.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23That's where you get you hair, make-up
0:25:23 > 0:25:25and nails done, then you dress up.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27HOOTER
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Harry, Robert and Leeah from my own special burns club
0:25:31 > 0:25:36are coming, and I'm hoping Stephanie will make it from the south coast.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39You're gorgeous! Look at your eyelashes!
0:25:40 > 0:25:43What do you think? Show your mum.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48Surrounded by my friends and family, I think I'm finally ready
0:25:48 > 0:25:50to take my headband off in public.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57I got my hair and make-up done and it's really fun.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05- Hooray! My new friend Stephanie's made it.- Happy birthday.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08- Are you having a nice day? - Yeah.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- Your hair looks really nice. - Thanks. How are you?
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- I'm good, thank you. - That's good.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15- Stephanie?- Yes.- You're going to be next for make-up.- OK.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18Take your coat off and put it over there.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22Meeting Stephanie made me realise it doesn't matter
0:26:22 > 0:26:25what you look like, it only matters what you're like inside.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27- Thank you. - You're welcome.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29It's really nice.
0:26:32 > 0:26:33- Do you like it? - Yeah.
0:26:35 > 0:26:40I'm very proud of you today. You look absolutely beautiful.
0:26:40 > 0:26:46- You're not a little girl, any more. - No.- No. Make your own decisions.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48- I do anyway! - I know you do!
0:26:48 > 0:26:51ALL: Happy birthday, Holly!
0:26:58 > 0:27:01It doesn't matter what you look like,
0:27:01 > 0:27:05it just matters about your personality, that's who you are.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09And it doesn't matter if I don't get hair as quickly as I thought,
0:27:09 > 0:27:13because I'm proud of who I am and what I look like.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16# Cos you're amazing
0:27:16 > 0:27:21# Just the way you are
0:27:21 > 0:27:25# And when you smile
0:27:25 > 0:27:31# The whole world stops and stares for a while
0:27:31 > 0:27:34# Cos, girl, you're amazing
0:27:34 > 0:27:37# Just the way you are... #
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:40 > 0:27:42# Cos, girl, you're amazing
0:27:42 > 0:27:46# Just the way you are. #