In today's episode of Girls with Graft, we’re honored to feature Alexi Pyles—a burn survivor, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Alexi's journey began halfway around the world when she was just six months old, and her experiences have fueled a lifelong passion for helping others.

Join us as we dive into Alexi's career as a therapist, her invaluable advice for fellow survivors considering therapy, and her reflections on what it truly means to be "healed." We also explore her love for stunts and gymnastics, her expertise in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and how creativity plays a vital role in the healing process.

⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Alexi Pyles is a child burn survivor. She was burned at six months old with second and third degree scald burns on her neck and chest. Alexi was abandoned by her parents shortly after the incident. She stayed in an orphanage until the age of two when she was adopted by a single parent mother who brought her back to the states. Alexi doesn't have any memories of her burns, other than what was told. She received extensive burn care from the ages of three to her teens. Due to the lack of immediate care, Alexi did not have the typical burn treatment like skin grafts, expanders, or spending time in a hyperbaric chamber. She had steroidal injections, pressure garments, stitching, and lasers.

Today, Alexi is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) and certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) with a speciality in DBT therapy modality and trauma informed care. She has worked in many mental health settings including residential, IOP/PHP, hospital, and low acuity outpatient. She currently works for Kaiser Permanente as a psychiatric social worker focusing on their high acuity cases by connecting them to higher levels of care. During her free time, Alexi likes to do stunts and acting, gymnastics, going on hikes especially the beaches and anything creative.

• Learn more about DBT therapy.
• Sign up for Phoenix Society’s virtual support group.
• Explore all of Phoenix Society’s support offerings.
• Read “Painting Through the Darkness,” Painting Through the Darkness.
• Read “Controlling the Internal Flames,” written by Alexi Pyles.
• Read “Tackling Self-Sabotage,” written by Alexi Pyles.

Today’s podcast is powered by the National Fire Protection Association! NFPA is a nonprofit that seeks to save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge, & passion. Learn more about fire safety and explore their educational resources by visiting www.nfpa.org.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, host Rachel sits down with Raj Arora, CEO of Jensen Hughes, to delve into the inspiring new partnership between Jensen Hughes and the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Raj begins by sharing his professional journey in the fire engineering industry and what drew him to this critical field. He also recounts his impactful first connection with the Phoenix Society, including a transformative experience at the Phoenix World Burn Congress, and how everything fell into place to bring about this meaningful collaboration.

Together, Rachel and Raj explore the shared mission of both organizations: to support burn survivors and promote a safer, more resilient world. They discuss the tangible ways this partnership aims to advance fire prevention and safety standards, as well as the powerful role community plays in recovery and empowerment.

Tune in to hear how Jensen Hughes and the Phoenix Society are coming together to make a lasting difference for burn survivors and set a new standard for fire safety!

⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

As CEO of Jensen Hughes, a global market leader, Raj Arora guides the company’s rapid expansion while ensuring a steadfast commitment to technical excellence and exceptional client service. Through his leadership, he has transformed the company culture, helping to accelerate growth and inspire its 1,700+ engineers, consultants, data scientists and functional experts to develop and deliver innovative solutions that make our world safe, secure and resilient.

Throughout his two decades in the fire, security and risk engineering industry, Raj has built a reputation as a skilled engineer and a strategic business leader with a passion for fostering a positive organizational culture. Earlier in his career, Raj held leadership positions as Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Controls’ $1 billion Fire Detection and Special Hazard Product division, headquartered in Switzerland. As an equity partner at Arora Engineers, he helped catapult the firm from a small operation to an industry leader in MEP Engineering within the aviation and rail industries.

Raj is a licensed Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland. Over the course of his career, he’s received multiple awards, including Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s Top 40 Under 40 honor and Early Career and Distinguished Alumni awards from his alma mater. Moreover, he was recognized at Tyco with prestigious performance awards for accountability, teamwork and technical acumen. He currently serves as a board director for the National Fire Protection Association.

• Visit Jensen Hughes website.
• Follow Jensen Hughes on LinkedIn.
• Sign up for Phoenix Society’s newsletter.
• Watch the “Healing Power of Comedy.”
• Watch Danny Gropper’s Girls with Grafts episode on YouTube.

Today’s podcast is powered by Jensen Hughes! Jensen Hughes has been a global leader in fire protection engineering since 1939. Their diverse team of more than 1,700 engineers, scientists, and consultants tackles complex risk, safety, and security challenges, helping clients protect lives, property, and reputations. Together, they blend expert knowledge, innovative solutions, and cutting-edge research to make the world safe, secure, and resilient. Learn more by visiting www.jensenhughes.com.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

In this heartfelt episode, Rachel and Amber sit down with Kimaree Lewis, the resilient mother of a burn survivor, to hear her powerful story of navigating trauma, healing, and hope. Kimaree opens up about the day her family's life changed forever, her son and family's emotional and physical challenges, and how her family's faith got them through the toughest times.

Join us as Kimaree shares insights on caring for her family and also herself, how giving back as a Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter has impacted both her and her son, and her advice for other caregivers. Tune in to hear how one mother's journey can offer hope to anyone facing life's most challenging moments.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Kimaree Lewis is the mother of five children and the wife to an awesome husband. She is a Human Resources Manager and in 2024, she received the Human Resources Professional of the year. Kimaree lives by the motto: “Lead others to look up to the person they see in the mirror.” She wants to help others create a reflection that they are proud of and a shadow they don't mind lurking behind them. Helping people is her passion and she feels full and accomplished when she knows she’s helped better another's situation or circumstance.

• Watch our latest podcast episode with physical therapist, Ingrid Parry, where we talk about the importance of movement in burn recovery.
• Read “Me, Enough? A Sibling's Story of Becoming Free of Guilt and Shame,” where Katherine Hill shares her journey of letting go of the shame and guilt she felt after living through a house fire that injured her twin sister.
• Read “Self-Care for Caregivers.”
• Learn more about Phoenix SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery) and how to become a trained Peer Supporter.

Today’s podcast is powered by the Pritzker Hageman Law Firm! The Pritzker Hageman burn injury legal team helps burn survivors and their loved ones pursue compensation and justice throughout the United States. Learn more at: LegalJourney.guide.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.