PORTLAND, Ore. — A propane explosion at a carnival in Odessa, Washington, left four-year-old Cathy Marie Morton with third degree burns on over 80% of her body. The explosion killed five other people, and Morton spent six months in the hospital, undergoing 19 skin graft operations.
She said growing up, she experienced many other traumatic events after the fire, but eventually turned to energy work, which was inspired by her mother, who took care of her when she was recovering in the hospital.
She developed a passion for it, and journeyed into the spiritual world, using things like meditation, crystals and other methods to help continue healing herself, as well as others.
Now, she teaches workshops around Oregon, and has even gone as far as Hawaii after the 2023 Maui wildfires, to try and help survivors of the wildfires.
"It was such a tragedy on a global [scale], and it also shook me to the point where if this can happen in Hawaii, it can happen anywhere, because that's paradise," she said.
“I traveled there just to be present, to wear shorts and a short sleeve shirt, and say, just by my presence, this too shall pass. You can do this. You are strong, and you will overcome.”
She said she did ceremonial blessings at the well known banyan tree in Hawaii, as well as other places in the region.
She still battles difficult memories and emotions, like during Oregon's Almeda Fire in 2020, which was near her home now in Ashland, and led to a few of her friends to lose their home as well. While she made her home available to others, she had to escape for a bit herself.
“I myself had to leave because the smell of the wildfire and the ash in the air, it caused my nervous system to freak out, so I needed to leave until everything settled down enough for me to come home.”
She said for burn survivors, she recommends one non-profit organization that she's an advocate of.
"There is an organization called the Phoenix Society," she said. "They have lots and lots of ways to assist people in their recovery.”
She also had some advice for anyone going through a hard time.
“There's only one thing that's consistent in this world, and that is change. So just because you feel that way today doesn't mean that some miracle or some wonderful thing might happen tomorrow, and you need to suit up and show up for those things.”
Morton had another workshop in Portland on Sunday, and plans to have more after that.
To sign up or learn more, click here.
