Written by Nicole Smith on October 09, 2019
On October 25, 2000, Brien Dews of Rockford, Michigan, was the passenger in a single-engine plane being flown by one of his friends, Dan Rose. During takeoff in heavy fog, the plane darted off the runway and hit a tree. Dan died instantly from the initial impact. The plane was quickly engulfed in flames and came to rest on the only door, trapping Brien inside.
Once out of the wreckage, Brien still had to walk through thick woods to find help. He had sustained second- and third-degree burns to about 35 percent of his body, including both of his legs, his right arm, and both of his hands. He was in a medically induced coma for six weeks, during which he also suffered from lung problems and several infections.
Brien later learned three other planes had crashed in the area that day, and he was the only survivor. “I have an overwhelming sense of cheating death,” remarks Brien. “I had no business surviving violence like that.”
On the day of the plane crash, Brien’s son, Keagan, turned two months old and his daughter, Elly, was two years old. Brien feels lucky and blessed to have survived the crash and feels his purpose is to be here for his two children and his wife, Sara.
Despite the pain of recovery and the permanence of a burn injury, Brien is a self-described optimist who looks for the best in any situation. Sara describes Brien as “ambitious and determined.” She says he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to, which proved to be quite true in his recovery.
Brien, an anthropology graduate from Grand Valley State University, opened a clock-making business in 1997. Brien had learned the craft from his father, a fellow clockmaker. Although Brien’s right hand was badly injured from the fire, he was determined not to let that affect his career. In rehab, Brien compensated by learning how to work left- handed. While he has since learned how to use his right hand again, his left one now takes the lead.
While Brien was still a patient in the rehab unit, a social worker told him about Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors and the upcoming World Burn Congress that was to be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brien remembers feeling doubtful about attending, not being sure how the company of other survivors would do anything besides make him feel worse.
Despite his misgivings, Brien decided that since Phoenix WBC was being held near his hometown he would at least attend a few of the events. Today, Brien says that the Phoenix Society changed his life and that he would never miss another World Burn Congress.
He has learned to find inspiration from meeting other survivors and hearing their stories. He also explains that World Burn Congress helped him to find his voice and develop his story. Brien serves as a SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery) volunteer and while he enjoys helping others, he also believes he benefits from volunteering with the program.
Brien has found a way to use one of his hobbies to create a unique fundraiser for two organizations that have dramatically changed his life—the Spectrum Health Regional Burn Unit and Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.
Brien, the owner of a 1984 Volkswagon (VW) Vanagon Wolfsburg Edition bus and a 1985 VW Wolfsburg Weekender bus, co-founded Buses by the Beach with his friend and fellow VW bus owner, Todd Olson. The loosely assembled group of VW van lovers hosts a semi-annual event campout for VW van enthusiasts to display their buses and share in a weekend of fun and camaraderie.
First held in May 2003, Buses by the Beach raises money through donations, a raffle, corporate grants, and the sale of promotional items. The spring camp out is held at the Grand Rogue Campground in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has grown rapidly, with the most recent camp out attracting about 40 buses from as far away as Florida and Canada. The fall event rotates to various campgrounds near the shore of Lake Michigan.
Brien and Sara have both enjoyed creating and participating in Buses by the Beach and have made numerous close friends through the event, all while being able to raise funds for two organizations that are extremely important to them.
Brien and Sara both believe that the accident has brought out the positive aspects of their lives. Brien is very open about his injury and said he doesn’t feel self- conscious about his scars. Sara also sees Brien’s scars as a positive influence for their children and hopes it will help them to learn tolerance and to be accepting of people with differences.
Sara says, “Brien often says the accident was the best thing that ever happened to him.” She believes it has brought their family closer together and changed their priorities and perspectives in life.
For more information on Buses by the Beach, visit their website at http://www.busesbythebeach.com.
Nicole E. Smith is a PhD student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a burn survivor.