For a burn survivor, dating and finding love after a burn injury may seem overwhelming and impossible. A ‘new normal’ may take many years to discover, and for many burn survivors, having confidence may be a skill that takes a long time to develop. For burn survivors Dan & Nasia, this also rang true. As survivors living completely different lives in separate countries, love had not come to mind. At the time of their injuries, both survivors were in existing relationships that ended after their accidents. But what began as a supportive friendship for Dan and Nasia through their burn survivor experiences became a love story they’d never imagined. In this episode, we celebrate Valentine’s Day, a day of love—with two burn survivors that have found love after trauma. Dan and Nasia’s inspiring stories of hope, passion for what they love, and compassion for one another is a journey you will not soon forget. About Anthanasia (Nasia) HouvardasAthanasia, which in Greek means eternal life, is a speaker, artist, art therapist, and advocator for road safety and burn trauma. She is originally from Greece, and since 2016, she has been traveling between Greece and Canada, where she happily lives with her husband, Dan Plexman. In 2001, she watched her life change in one split second. She was involved in a horrific car accident where she lost two friends. Her body suffered 74% of 3rd and 4th-degree burns, and she came close to losing her life.Reality hit her hard. Not only she lost her friends, but she also lost her identity. Fragments of her old self while looking in the mirror shattered her.During the long road to recovery and to strengthen her injured hands, she was introduced to painting. She found the process to be a form of mental and emotional therapy. Bringing life to blank canvasses felt like she was returning to life herself. This feeling sparked the desire to develop her skills further. Today she is a proud member of the Greek Artists Association and grateful for having her art displayed in numerous exhibitions in Europe and Canada. It is truly fulfilling.But this was not the end. Since she experienced the emotional healing power of art, she decided to become a certified Art therapist. As an Art Therapist, she enjoys guiding her clients on a mindfulness journey, where they are relieved from stress and anxiety and reconnect with themselves to progress toward a positive change.Her health challenges made her realize that life is fragile and precious. With the hope that no one else goes through what she and her family went through, she started sharing her story with different audiences in Greece, Italy, and Canada to promote road safety and road accident prevention. About Dan PlexmanDan is your average guy on a mission to keep workers safe! A preventable workplace accident changed Dan’s life forever. Now, he speaks from a depth of experience few know when he stresses:Plan & Prepare. Prevent & Protect.Dan was working alone in a man lift that came in close proximity to live overhead power lines. An electrical arc fire caught him in an inferno that caused 3rd to 6th-degree burns to 60% of his body.Without a practiced emergency rescue plan, panic and mass confusion set in, and this made rescue efforts completely ineffective.Since beating the odds of a 13% chance of survival and enduring over ten years of constant surgeries, Dan has learned to accept his “new normal” life.Dan feels obligated to promote a safety culture that will keep everyone safe in the home, in the schoolyard, and at the workplace. Learn more about Dan’s story: https://www.danplexman.com/dans-story.html Resources from the Show Dan’s WebsiteNasia’s WebsiteHealing Stages of Burn WoundsAbout Electrical BurnsPTSD Treatment RecommendationsFinding Purpose After a Burn InjuryHealing with Guided ImageryFinding Love After a Burn InjurySelf-Love After a Burn InjuryThe Body is Not an Apology KeynoteTools for Getting Back Out ThereAttend Phoenix World Burn CongressSponsor Girls with Gra