Ornella Price’s Burn Injury Journey

Ornella Price’s journey as a burn injury advocate grew out of her experience supporting her son through recovery. She learned early on that ongoing pain, tightness, and limited mobility are common challenges after burn injury. Through consistent physical therapy, gentle stretching, and encouragement to remain active, her son gradually reduced stiffness and rebuilt physical strength.

Throughout the process, Ornella found that patience and compassion were essential. She focused on recognizing small victories, understanding that even modest progress deserved acknowledgment. By emphasizing encouragement over pity, she helped create an environment that supported empowerment, understanding, and confidence when her son asked for help.

Ornella has since become a SOAR‑certified peer supporter through Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto and the Phoenix Society. She has participated in peer support groups across Canada and the United States and is a motivational and keynote speaker, drawing on lived experience, describing her family’s journey of strength, resilience and compassion to various audiences.

What does Ornella Price think of the quality, usefulness, and user-friendliness of the MSKTC resources?

Ornella values MSKTC resources for their high quality, usefulness, and ease of use. She appreciates that the materials are research‑based and written in plain language, making them easier for a wide range of people to understand and relate to. She also notes that the resources address practical topics and are available in accessible formats such as fact sheets and videos.

Ornella believes these materials reflect real‑life experiences and needs identified by burn survivors, family members, caregivers, and clinicians. Because they are designed with clarity, accessibility, and realistic situations in mind, she finds them simple to use and easy to share.

She encourages others to use MSKTC resources by reading fact sheets, watching videos, sharing them with families and caregivers, and using them in support groups, healthcare settings, and public education. Ornella believes these resources help people better understand burn recovery, learn practical strategies, and feel supported throughout the process.

Why does Ornella Price want to be an MSKTC ambassador?

Ornella wanted to become a MSKTC Ambassador to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people recovering from burn injuries. The role allows her to draw on both lived experience and professional knowledge to support others through recovery.

Through her ambassador work, Ornella hopes to help individuals and families access high quality, evidence-based information that can be difficult to find during the burn recovery process. She also values the opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of burn injury through her Price Strong nonprofit organization that strives to help burn survivors, families, and the burn communities. For Ornella, being an ambassador is a way to turn personal experience into practical support for others navigating similar challenges.

What has Ornella Price done as an MSKTC ambassador?

Through her involvement with MSKTC, Ornella has learned more about the resources available to support burn survivors and families. She was referred to the organization by a trusted medical contact and later had the opportunity to provide feedback for a caregiver fact sheet based on her family’s experiences. She has also shared the MSKTC website and contact information with peer support groups she participates in.

Ornella actively shares MSKTC resources with peer support groups across Canada and with individual families who reach out to her and her family for support. She helps raise awareness by including the MSKTC logo in her email signature, on her pricestrong.ca website, and in presentations and discussions with families, burn survivors, and organizations.

She describes the post hospital period as overwhelming and notes that discovering MSKTC was a relief. Having access to clear, practical information helped her feel supported and informed during recovery. Ornella was encouraged to become an ambassador by another MSKTC Ambassador she deeply respects, and she now works to extend that same support and awareness to others.