This is the story of the extraordinary life of Professor Fiona Wood. Fiona was born into a loving family in a coal-mining district of the North of England. Her parents made great sacrifices to ensure the promising girl had access to a good education and she was enrolled eventually in St. Thomas Medical School in London to finally become a surgeon, a rare profession for a woman at that time. She married an Australian and they came to live in Perth where she worked and became thoroughly involved in burns treatment and research. When three bombs exploded in Bali in 2002 victims were flown to the hospital in Perth where the foresight of Fiona had a well prepared treatment area and it was there that she and her team were able to save the lives of 28 survivors with up to 92 % body burns. In the field of burns and reconstructive surgery Fiona made world headlines. She speaks of the moving valour of her burns patients, and the heartbreak, triumph, and tears that have run through her career. With the use of her groundbreaking invention of ’spray-on’ skin to help minimize her patients scarring, Fiona has become one Australia’s most innovative, respected and dedicated surgeons and researchers. Remarkably, all of this was achieved while she raised with loving attention, six children. A truly outstanding person with a strong personality, much determination and a deep concern for the well-being of her patients and staff.
Sue Williams the author, delivers a fervently candid, unambiguous account of all aspects of Fiona’s exceptional life.