Jordan, Trae, Chandra Berns

In 1988, Jordan, Chandra and Trae Berns, 17-month-old triplets, were asleep at their home in Texas. In the middle of the night, their home was set fire by arson. In one devastating evening, their home was destroyed and their mother was killed. The triplets were left with severe burns on their face, chest, arms, back and legs.

When they were younger they were oblivious to their scars.  As they got older, they started noticing peers, and even adults, became very quick to judge.  The mean comments and teasing took a toll on them.  They became insecure and self conscious about their burns.  Once they got into high school…they found it more comforting to hide behind long sleeves, rather than be judged and stared at constantly. 

Despite their scars, the triplets have grown up to be beautiful, kind and intelligent women. Sadly, their father passed away five years ago, and they now live with their grandmother. From the time they were eight-years-old until they were 18, the triplets attended a camp for children with burns at Parkland Memorial Hospital, which provides an opportunity for children to share time with others who have faced similar life-altering challenges. Jordan, Chandra and Trae then acted as junior counselors in a leadership program to help younger campers to improve their self-esteem and build confidence, and they are planning to attend the camp this summer as volunteers.

Despite years of surgeries and treatments at Parkland Burn Center and Shriners Hospital in Galveston, the 21-year-old triplets were still left with significant third-degree burn scars covering their arms, legs, face and chest. While searching the Internet last summer for treatment options for their scars, Chandra came across a video of Dr. Jill Waibel conducting a revolutionary new laser treatment on a woman who was burned in a grease fire.

With hopes of treatment preventing her from sleeping, Trae called Dr.Waibel at the offices of Palm Beach Esthetic Dermatology and Laser Center in West Palm Beach Florida at midnight, and left a message. Dr. Waibel returned the call and only a few weeks later, the triplets drove to Florida with their grandmother for a consultation.

Dr. Waibel examined the triplets and quickly confirmed that their best chance for improvement was using the revolutionary UltraPulse CO2 laser from Lumenis and the fractional treatments of DeepFx and ActiveFX. She quickly contacted Lumenis executives to request their involvement in this advanced application as well as her partner Dr. Ken Beer. Lumenis quickly agreed to offer the triplets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their treatments sponsored at no cost.

On February 28th of this year, and again on March 27th, the triplets received extensive treatments for their scars from Dr. Waibel and Dr. Beer using the UltraPulse CO2 TotalFX fractional laser. The girls received treatments on their faces, arms and chest. Within a week, they were already seeing improvements. The days of long sleeve shirts and heavy makeup are a thing of the past. Now the girls are thrilled with the results they see and are quick to recommend the results to others.

Today, Jordan and Trae are in college at the University of Texas at San Antonio, hoping to establish a career in occupational therapy. Chandra is planning to join them in school next fall, with the hopes of someday starting a foundation to help burn victims and their families.

“What doesn’t kill you, can only make you stronger”
Jordan, Trae & Chandra Berns

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