Letters Cheer a Burn Survivor’s Heart

Cheryl Bess lost her face, her sight and her childhood 13 years ago when an assailant threw acid at her. 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 receives mail from well-wishers around the globe who were inspired by news in The Times of her latest accomplishment: graduation from Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

More than 900 people have been moved to write to Bess and her mother, Norma, via the nonprofit Orange County Burn Assn. All but 50 sent graduation checks to benefit Bess, in care of the association, according to its president, Anne Delgadillo. Nearly $40,000 has been received, with average donations of $25.

The association will use the money to buy Bess a computer printer that will help her become more independent and employable. The device prints Braille and written text.

Any leftover money has been designated by Bess for the association to help other burn survivors and their families. The association has “done a lot for me,” Bess says, “and I want to give it back.”

Contributors have said they are impressed by Bess’ grace in managing the arduous years of skin-graft surgeries to restore her face, her adjustment to blindness, and that she still trusts strangers despite the viciousness of the attack on her.

“Wow!” she says. “All these people writing me, from places like Hawaii and Virginia and South Carolina, and I just think, ‘My goodness!’

“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.”

“Dear Cheryl,” said one letter from North Carolina, “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.”

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

Cheryl Bess will tutor disabled students in the computer sciences at Saddleback as she continues her efforts to get work as a radio DJ. She also finds time to follow her passion: pro wrestling. She is a library of information about stars of the ring; her dream is to meet a creepy- and gravelly voiced wrestler known as the Undertaker.

* The Orange County Burn Assn. is still accepting 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.

Cheryl Bess’ e-mail address is kaianne@earthlink.net.