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My Life

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Children's: Factual

Factual: Real Life Stories

Documentary series following the highs and lows of children across the world.

Documentary series following the highs and lows of children across the world, each with a unique story to tell.

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My Life: Series 4

My Life: Episode 6: The Burns Club

The Burns Club

Episode 6

Episode 6: The Burns Club

My Life  - CBBC - BBC

12-year-old Holly, who was badly burned as a young child, meets other children with scars.

Documentary series. Following 12-year-old Holly, who was badly burned as a young child, as she undergoes an operation and meets other children with scars.

When 12-year-old Holly McKew from Manchester was 20 months old she was badly burned when a boiling hot chip pan spilled onto her head and arm. As a consequence, she has bald patches on her head and has had to put up with people staring and calling her names. Over the years, Holly has had three operations in which balloons have been placed under the hairy skin on her head to expand the tissue. Once it has been expanded, the excess hairy tissue is realigned to help cover her bald patches. Although Holly has gained a lot more hair from the operations, she always wears a headband to cover up her remaining bald patches.

This documentary follows Holly through the trials and tribulations of her biggest operation yet, in which two tissue-expanding balloons are placed under her scalp. Along the way, she meets up with other children who also have to live with scars, at an action-packed camp for burned children in the Lake District. 

Holly also meets 14-year-old Stephanie, who was severely burned as a toddler and has also had tissue-expanding operations to create more hair. Stephanie has now come to terms with looking different and doesn't cover up her bald patches. She teaches Holly that you don't have to look like everyone else to be happy. This proves to be an important lesson because Holly's operation doesn't go smoothly, but by the end of the film, through meeting Stephanie, Holly no longer feels she always has to cover up her bald patches. She is able to celebrate her 13th birthday without covering her head.

The BBC's multiplatform offering bringing the very best programmes to 6-12 year olds.

CBBC is the BBC's multiplatform offering for 6-12 year olds bringing the very best drama, entertainment and factual programmes to its young viewers.

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