Delores Lekowski

The Hurting Angels and Power Angels by Delores Lekowski

In 1999 a woman from northern Ohio named Delores Lekowski called NASFM after receiving a letter we sent out to burn survivor organizations. She said, "I like what NASFM is doing to try to make the world a safer place. How can I help?"

So we told her about some of our consumer product fire safety initiatives, and suggested things she could do to support our efforts. And support us she has. Delores has talked with newspaper and TV reporters. She has written to members of Congress. She has contacted product manufacturers. She has carried our cause to the Shriners and other organizations that have offered their help. And she keeps asking: "What next? How else can I help?"

In the course of working with Delores, we learned her remarkable story. When she was 10 years old, she was burning trash in her backyard when her dress caught fire. She was severely burned over 85 percent of her body and was not expected to live. She had many setbacks over the course of the painful and frightening year she spent in the hospital. She underwent countless surgeries and therapy. But with the love of her family, the grace of God and an abiding optimism and faith, she miraculously survived.

Delores has gone on to lead a full and satisfying life. She has 3 children and 8 grandchildren. She is active in the Phoenix Society (an organization for burn survivors and their families) and works with other burn and trauma survivors, helping them to manage the various social, school and job situations that can be so intimidating when someone feels "different."

All Delores wanted was to get her words of hope into the hands of these children, to assure them that they were special, that it was OK to be sad, and that the emotional and physical pain would heal. Delores is living proof of that.

But there was one problem. The manuscript had sat for many years in a drawer. And as hard as she tried, she wasn't able to find the way to turn her book into a reality. Not for personal gain, and not for fame - just an unselfish desire to make the world a better place.

Given the extent to which Delores has helped our cause with no expectation of return, it seemed natural for us to help her as much as we could. So we arranged for a talented illustrator, Howard Sparber, to bring her words to life with his delightful drawings. We then put the booklet into electronic "pdf" format so that others can print and distribute it easily.

At NASFM's annual conference in July 2000, the NASFM Board and Public Education Committee accepted the opportunity to help get the word out about Delores's special book to all organizations that deal with Hurting Angels. The goal would be for these groups to take it, print it and distribute it where it can do the most good.

Please download this booklet and help Delores fulfill her mission - to reach those individuals, young and not-so-young, who can most benefit from her comforting words and inspiring example.

Contact Delores at deloreslekowski@hotmail.com

Click here to learn more about Howard Sparber

Download Power Angels and Hurting Angels

Power Angels

Hurting Angels