Byrneout's Story

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:49 pm

After I share my story, I'm going to go read Knightt's. I hear it's the best so far, and after that I'm going to read the others - so if my story has any of the same pacing or elements of someone else's, please note that the errors are unintentional, and come about from my total ignorance, having looked into these topics for the first time today.

I can not recall the first seven years of my life - my very first memories are of waking up in the Shriner's Burns Institute, in agony, frightened, alone, and confused. My mother decided that I was evil/impure/needed to be killed, so she poured lighter fluid over me while I slept and lit me on fire - the trauma caused me to lose most of my memory prior to waking up during the incident. I had suffered beyond 3rd degree burns over approximately 30% of my upper body, including the chest, arms, and face. Although I was taken to a local hospital, the only reason I was revived was because they had immediatly transferred me to Shriner's. The damage was extensive, and I remained in the hospital for several months as they repaired muscle and skin to make me functional again.

Needless to say, my mental state matched my physical one. When I regained consistent consciousness for the first time, a nurse came to my side and started a conversation, answering my questions and asking many questions of her own. Little did I know this, but she was pumping me for information about my likes and dislikes. After a few minutes of conversation, she left, and brought in my grandmother to see me. After abotu ten to fifteen minutes, the nurse returned, with a sizable box that was wrapped like a present. Opening it, I found several toys, books, games, etc. that the nurse had picked out based on the very interests that she had pulled out of me a few minutes before. Inside that box were two novels - R. E. Howard's "Conan The Barbarian" and Edgar Rice Burroughs "Tarzan Of The Apes". I ended up reading and thoroughly enjoying the novels, and over the course of my hospitalization, went looking for more. After I had exhausted all of the novels that they had, I began pleading for more of the same. A week or two after I had finished the last book, the person in charge of the toy room brought me something that he thought would interest me - a stack of Glod Key/Whitman comic books focusing on two characters: Tarzan and Magnus, Robot Fighter. My voracious appetite for reading consumed these books as well, and engendered a love for comics that lasted well beyond my hospitalization.

Flash forward to the early nineties, when Valiant/Voyager has just started up. I'm working in an LCS called "Amazing Heroes" while I attend college, and what do I see? A solicitation for a new Magnus series. I was sold in a heartbeat, and began ordering extra copies for myself, and out of sheer loyalty to the publisher that brought back one of my beloved childhood icons, I bought one copy of every book Valiant released, and grew enamored of Solar, X-O, Harbinger, and Shadowman. Around the time Birthquake was starting, the LCS where I was employed was sold and then stripped bare by the new owner, leaving me without a job or a source for more Valiants. After a period of deep poverty, I made the final sacrifice to get out of the hole and get back on my feet - selling most of my collection. I hung on to all my Magnus and Shadowman, but let my Harbinger 1 go for $160 (back when it could command that price).

Ironically, in March of 2003, another hospitalization and near death incident would again bring me back to the Valiant fold. I had just purchased a new home prior to the hospitalization, and when I was released, I occupied the days of recovery with the sorting of my various collections (He-Man toys, which were an offshoot of my Conan obsession, and Comics, which were an offshoot of my Tarzan obsession). I lamented over the loss of many of my books, due to selling them and/or their destruction. I decided to begin repairing the holes in my collecton, and then turned to the wonder that is eBay. A tad bit later, I'm losing yet another auction, and decide that my idea of the worth of certain Valiant books must be way out of line with the rest of the world's, and began looking for a price guide for Valiant comics in specific. WHAM! There it was - valiantcomics.com (why didn't I think of that myself?), and the message boards that I now frequent alongside of all of you.

So, there's my story. Hope I didn't bore the hell out of you.

Valiant OCD · Post by **Valiant OCD** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:54 pm

Wow,...... And that gentlemen is the winner......

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:02 pm

Best story.

DJSpecter · Post by **DJSpecter** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:55 pm

Wow, and I thought that the story you had on your website was a cover story. Now I don't know what to believe when I hear other stories.

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:44 pm

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:49 pm

SH!T, I thought I had it tough growing up

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:19 am

DJSpecter wrote:Wow, and I thought that the story you had on your website was a cover story.

The website bio story is slightly embellished, but it's the truth more or less. I actually stayed at home until my sophomore year of college because I felt guilty for wanting to leave - after all, every authority figure I turned to for help ended up getting me in worse trouble, and I knew that if I did get out of the situation, then one of her daughters would end up taking the abuse when I was no longer there to absorb it. In the middle of my sophomore year, she stole my financial aid, and that was the last straw.

However, there's a lot of positive to it as well. My wrestling career wouldn't be *half* as exciting without the natural gimmick of my burn scars, and now that I'm capable of helping, I do what I can for Shriner's Burns Institute, to make sure the next child who ends up in there has a chance to make it out OK.

k_c_collectibles · Post by **k_c_collectibles** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:25 am

WOW - that is SOME story!

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:26 am

Chuck wrote:SH!T, I thought I had it though growing up

You did. I had it no better or worse than anyone else - my challenges were just different from yours.

Honestly, I consider myself lucky. I made it out alive, and fully functional, and I'm somewhat successful in life. There are kids who were in there the same time as I was who won't have the same opportunities. One child that I remember in particular was named Scotty - Scotty had 3rd degree burns over all of his body EXCEPT for a hand sized area on the back of his leg - no hair, he'd lost his left hand and two fingers on his right, his ears, nose and lips had to be reconstructed, etc. The spot that was spared is where his father's hand had been while he was pushing Scotty down into a tub filled with acid.

So, yeah, you had it tough, I had it tough, but we're both lucky that we didn't receive the same set of challenges that Scotty has to deal with.

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:28 am

whetteon wrote:Best story.

Naw, Knightt's really *is* better. He could make his into an action movie!

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:03 am

Byrneout wrote:
Chuck wrote:SH!T, I thought I had it though growing up
You did. I had it no better or worse than anyone else - my challenges were just different from yours.

Honestly, I consider myself lucky. I made it out alive, and fully functional, and I'm somewhat successful in life. There are kids who were in there the same time as I was who won't have the same opportunities. One child that I remember in particular was named Scotty - Scotty had 3rd degree burns over all of his body EXCEPT for a hand sized area on the back of his leg - no hair, he'd lost his left hand and two fingers on his right, his ears, nose and lips had to be reconstructed, etc. The spot that was spared is where his father's hand had been while he was pushing Scotty down into a tub filled with acid.

So, yeah, you had it tough, I had it tough, but we're both lucky that we didn't receive the same set of challenges that Scotty has to deal with.

Phuc, I can believe parents would do such things to their childern. SH!T like this *SQUEE* me off.

However, you've got a lot guts, character, and heart to take abuse for such along time (20 friggin years); I'm not sure I could (probably not). Not everyone's character is equal; I'm certain not many of us can stand as 'tall' as you (I'm giving you credit and you can't give it back

)

daydreamscomics · Post by **daydreamscomics** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:30 am

Byrneout wrote:
Chuck wrote:SH!T, I thought I had it though growing up
You did. I had it no better or worse than anyone else - my challenges were just different from yours.

Honestly, I consider myself lucky. I made it out alive, and fully functional, and I'm somewhat successful in life. There are kids who were in there the same time as I was who won't have the same opportunities. One child that I remember in particular was named Scotty - Scotty had 3rd degree burns over all of his body EXCEPT for a hand sized area on the back of his leg - no hair, he'd lost his left hand and two fingers on his right, his ears, nose and lips had to be reconstructed, etc. The spot that was spared is where his father's hand had been while he was pushing Scotty down into a tub filled with acid.

So, yeah, you had it tough, I had it tough, but we're both lucky that we didn't receive the same set of challenges that Scotty has to deal with.

well said. you sound like an awesome individual with a great head on your shoulders. much respect to you my man

myron · Post by **myron** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:00 am

...you've done well for yourself and others, despite the atrocities inflicted upon you...congratulations.

graybola · Post by **graybola** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 3:58 pm

WOW. Great story!

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 7:53 am

You know, I've been beating myself up for a lot of things lately. Out of nowhere, someone sent me this link - mind you, they use the last name I had when I was admitted to Shriner's (I changed my name a few years ago, for various reasons) but it was amazing to me to see that Shriner's considers ME a success story:

http://www.shrinershq.org/shrinersonly/ ... s2004.html

myron · Post by **myron** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:14 am

Byrneout wrote:You know, I've been beating myself up for a lot of things lately. Out of nwhere, someone sent me this link - mind you, they use the last name I had when I was admitted to Shriner's (I changed my name a few years ago, for various reasons) but it was amazing to me to see that Shriner's considers ME a success story:

http://www.shrinershq.org/shrinersonly/ ... s2004.html

kudos and congrats...

...

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:17 am

Byrneout wrote:You know, I've been beating myself up for a lot of things lately. Out of nwhere, someone sent me this link - mind you, they use the last name I had when I was admitted to Shriner's (I changed my name a few years ago, for various reasons) but it was amazing to me to see that Shriner's considers ME a success story:

http://www.shrinershq.org/shrinersonly/ ... s2004.html

Anyone who collects Valiant's is a success story!

Congrats

k_c_collectibles · Post by **k_c_collectibles** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:29 am

Byrneout wrote:You know, I've been beating myself up for a lot of things lately. Out of nwhere, someone sent me this link - mind you, they use the last name I had when I was admitted to Shriner's (I changed my name a few years ago, for various reasons) but it was amazing to me to see that Shriner's considers ME a success story:

http://www.shrinershq.org/shrinersonly/ ... s2004.html

Why wouldn't they consider you a sucess story? You have done a LOT with your life and even take the time to go back and help out with the kids there at Christmas. How many other former patients do that?

Your success story has to be a HUGE inspiration to those have gone through a similar situation at the Shriner's Hospital.

Chris

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:32 am

Byrneout wrote:You know, I've been beating myself up for a lot of things lately. Out of nowhere, someone sent me this link - mind you, they use the last name I had when I was admitted to Shriner's (I changed my name a few years ago, for various reasons) but it was amazing to me to see that Shriner's considers ME a success story:

http://www.shrinershq.org/shrinersonly/ ... s2004.html

Cut yourself some slack and relax

Your story will be an inspiration to others at the Shiners

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:56 am

**Mis-post**

Please ignore.

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:47 pm

Ric, people like and Knightt (and I'm sure there are others on the board in this category too) are what makes this world a great place. And the fact that you're humble about your achievements is even more testimony to the quality of your character.

Now, where can I find Knightt's story?

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:34 pm

I think it was deleted about a year ago... I might be incorrect. We could always ask him to repost, though.

myron · Post by **myron** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:50 pm

Byrneout wrote:I think it was deleted about a year ago... I might be incorrect. We could always ask him to repost, though.

pretty sure you are right Ric...he asked Greg to remove everypost that he did so that thread probably when poof...

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:11 pm

myron wrote:
Byrneout wrote:I think it was deleted about a year ago... I might be incorrect. We could always ask him to repost, though.
pretty sure you are right Ric...he asked Greg to remove everypost that he did so that thread probably when poof...

I thought about that Ric, but then when you said, "After I share my story, I'm going to go read Knightt's" I thought maybe it still existed somewhere.

myron · Post by **myron** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 7:46 am

Heath wrote:
myron wrote:
Byrneout wrote:I think it was deleted about a year ago... I might be incorrect. We could always ask him to repost, though.
pretty sure you are right Ric...he asked Greg to remove everypost that he did so that thread probably when poof...
I thought about that Ric, but then when you said, "After I share my story, I'm going to go read Knightt's" I thought maybe it still existed somewhere.

that was from last year...