Outpouring for O.C. Burn Survivor Bess

Cheryl Bess lost her face, her sight and her childhood 13 years ago after an acid attack in the desert. But in the past month she has gained thousands of new admirers and faith, she says, “in humankind.”

Almost every day, the 28-year-old burn survivor receives mail from well-wishers around the globe inspired by news of her latest accomplishment: college graduation.

Saturday she will sing the national anthem at the opening of the Vigilantes minor league baseball game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, where her commencement was held.

It is all part of her long rebound from an assault at age 15 that most would not have survived. And it has moved more than 900 people to write Cheryl and her mother, Norma, via the nonprofit Orange County Burn Assn.

All but 50 sent graduation checks to benefit Cheryl, care of the Burn Assn., president president Anne Delgadillo said Thursday. Nearly $40,000 has been received, with average donations running $25.

The Burn Assn., which supports burn survivors and their families, will buy Cheryl Bess a computer printer that will help her become more independent and employable. The device prints Braille and written text.

The balance is being designated by Cheryl to help other burn survivors through the Burn Assn., she said, “because I feel, you know, they’ve done a lot for me, and I want to give it back.”

A Times story a month ago about Cheryl’s progress has been picked up by newspapers around the country and has led to at least two talk-radio shows about her. One of them is the show of Michael Reagan, the former president’s son, whose program is syndicated around the U.S.

People have reached out to Cheryl, impressed by her grace in managing the arduous years of skin-graft surgeries to restore her face, adjusting to blindness and--perhaps the most valiant achievement--still trusting strangers despite the viciousness of the attack on her. Youngsters, the old, the unemployed, even the suicidal have written.

“Wow!” she said of the correspondence. “All these people writing me, from places like Hawaii and Virginia and South Carolina and I just think, ‘My goodness!’ I’m really appreciative. I really enjoy all the letters and cards I receive.”

She reads one from North Carolina that particularly gripped her.

“Dear Cheryl, I’m a 72-year-old retired Air Force colonel and I’ve been through three wars and seen much too much. I have many heroes, and you are one of them. God bless you.”

She sighs. “See? That is so cool! This guy’s been through three wars. It’s kind of overwhelming. I mean, I don’t see myself as a hero.”

Another card said simply, “‘You go, girl!’ That reminded me of my gospel choir, what we say to the soloist before they start,” Cheryl said. “Another one, I think it was from a national parks guy, all he said was, ‘You’re awesome.’ ”

Norma Bess, whose life has revolved around raising a daughter with severe physical challenges, said her favorite letter was from an elderly woman on a fixed income who sent $5 and apologized it could not be more.

“Congratulations to you and your wonderful mother,” wrote Margaret of Sacramento. “From now on there is so much good that will happen, because you’ll make it happen. God bless you.”

Although busy, Cheryl finds time to follow her passion: pro wrestling. She is a library of information about stars of the ring dating back decades, and her dream is to meet a “creepy, gravelly voiced wrestler named the Undertaker.”

She spoke to him once a few years ago by phone before a pay-per-view event, telling him what a huge fan she is. Giggling as she retold the story, Cheryl said the Undertaker replied with his standard “thank you, creature of the night” and “rest in peace.”

In addition to trying to find work as a radio DJ, Cheryl will tutor disabled students in the computer sciences at Saddleback College and take Spanish classes to better sing Selena songs.

She intends to launch a Web site to be in touch with people on the Internet (her e-mail address is kaianne@earthlink.net). She has a computer with a speech program so she can listen to her e-mail.

“It makes me feel good that with all the . . . negative things going on, and people saying that society doesn’t care what happens to fellow man, all of a sudden to see this response. It restores your faith in humankind.”

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The Orange County Burn Assn. is accepting congratulations cards and donations to the Cheryl Bess Special Fund: Orange County Burn Assn. c/o UC Irvine Medical Center, 101 City Drive South, Building 2, Room 110, Orange, CA 92868. (714) 456-8938.