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Jae C. Hong / AP
Anastaza Pack, 17, looks in the mirror as she puts on make-up at the Angel Faces retreat in Corona, Calif. Angel Faces is an annual retreat for young girls with severe burns or facial disfigurement that focuses on psychological healing through group counseling, role-playing, art therapy and workshops that teach coping skills.
Jae C. Hong / AP
Bethany Essary, 16, smiles while watching her friends get ready for a closing ceremony at the Angel Faces retreat in Corona, Calif., on June 22.
Jae C. Hong / AP
Oby Rodriguez chooses a hairstyle for a closing ceremony at the Angel Faces retreat in Corona, Calif., on June 22.
Jae C. Hong / AP
Larisa Hertz, left, and Bethany Essary look at a photo of themselves at the Angel Faces retreat in Corona, Calif., on June 22.
AP reports -- The room rings out with the cruel nicknames that have haunted the teenagers for years: Crusty crab. Burnt toast. Snake skin. Freddy Krueger's daughter. Mutant. Scarface.
For the first time, it's the burn victims themselves who are shouting them.
The exercise is emotionally excruciating but also empowering for these girls, who come from all over the world to attend Angel Faces, an annual retreat east of Los Angeles. Some were injured as infants; others arrive just months after a devastating accident. Several girls lost a parent or a sibling in the disaster that maimed them.
Jae C. Hong / AP
Anastaza Pack, 17, puts on make-up at the Angel Faces retreat in Corona, Calif, on June 22.
Jae C. Hong / AP
Katelyn Schram, left, leans on volunteer Catrece Nosal while chatting at the Angel Faces retreat in Corona, Calif, on June 22.
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poor thing
God bless them. They are still beautiful.
I truly feel sorry for these ladies. They are making the best of a tragedy.
What I will never understand is how anyone can make fun of people who have been severely injured in any way through no fault of their own. It can happen to any one of us in an instant and no one is immune to it.
Reading the cruel taunts is heartbreaking. Who would say such things to these girls? I know many kids don't know any better, but if I found out my kid called someone names like this, I would feel that I had failed as a parent (then I would give him a hiding and ground him for a year).
Like any other issue or situation, we should be moved to put our money where our mouth is. How wonderful would it be to sponsor just one girl to attend this retreat.
This story really puts my problems into perspective. It makes me realize how fortunate I am and how teeny, tiny my problems really are. The physical and emotional pain these girls endure day after day make them heroes to me. Beautiful heroes.
I thought the same thing as I read this.
I think this place is fantastic. I have a 13 year old daughter and think if something happened to her, we would be lucky to be able to send her somewhere like this. I'm sure a lot of heartache goes on with a lot of these girl, knowing how terrible people can be at times. This is truly awesome and inspirational!!!!
Bless their courage. They have overcome so much!
I'm the parent of a burn survivor. I understand their pain. My son was severely burned when he was 14. He is now 38 and a partner in a law firm, married to an awesome woman and the father of a 2 1/2 year old boy. There are people who look past your scars and look into your heart. You will find these people as my son did. God bless you all - you are all beautiful.
You make a good point.
We should all look at what is on the inside - and what people do with their lives.
But instead we are enamored with physical beauty - which took no effort on the part of the individual. Being physically beautiful does not make you smart, or interesting or a good person. It just makes you pleasant to look at.
Our society has a long way to go.
Thank God this facility exists to help young girls feel good about themselves. They should feel good about themselves - because it's what's in their hearts that really makes them beautiful.
Ladies you have my heart full of love and support for each one of you. Having been a victim of ONLY a minor disfigurement when I was 4 and at that...only on my hands..or there part of...I remember well the P-A-I-N...the smell...and the emotional horror of having to look at my burnt skin. And that was NOTHING compared to what you girls are facing.
I salute you for being brave, for talking about it and for exercising you ability to face life head on...to face others and to face yourself. You really are beautiful no matter what! Ag you grow...I promise you...you will come to understand that so completely.
I'm sorry for the stares you get...Mostly I'd say it's people being Inquisitive as to how you got that way....and most are afraid to say something to you thinking they don't want to hurt your feelings. Truth is...we all feel for you in our hearts and minds. Maybe there is a better way to convey that???
Blessings to all of you and to those who support you.
Peace & :)
Marie
Hard to see sometimes that beauty comes from the inside. True angels on earth and angels supporting them. Cant beat that no matter how you dice it.
You Go Girls!!!
You girls touched my heart, you all are truly beautiful, : )
I feel for these young women and wish them the best - they will never have a normal life though and they have to take that on with open eyes. This is a problem that should never exist - these are people that have everything that one needs to be successful and happy but society wrecks a lot of that. I talk about self esteem and self love a lot. I hope these young women can muster a lot of that and thrive!!
Bless their Hearts.
God blesses even when things seem out of His control. I'm very happy these ladies have this opportunity...and the future is wide open for each of them.
Imagine what would happen to the national mindset if the news reported these stories more often...ones of strength, determination, and character instead of all the hate, war, and death.
It's nice to hear about truly beautiful people, isn't it?
Thank you women for the courage to allow yourselves to be photographed. "Man looks at the outward things, but God sees the heart" I see alot of heart in these photos!
Be strong! Head up!
It is no different than the effects of Cancer, or a traffic accident that maims, or jumping into a pool or spring or river or lake an hitting bottom and breaking a neck. We can all be caught in a situation that is out of OUR control!
It is just another obstacle in life that affects your family and friends and will affect eveyone you know.
Be strong and prove everyone who ever doubted you wrong!
Those young women don't need anyone to feel sorry for them. They have a strength beyond anything most of us can imagine.
I've worked with an adult student at the post-secondary school at which I'm employed who suffered severe burning and scarring as the result of an acid attack by an abusive partner. She took time off to deal with her injuries, came back to finish our school when her family wanted her to go back home. She became employed in health care immediately after graduation in one of America's most-well known facilities. She has such a incredible positive attitude...one that I would be truly honored to be able to say that I had achieved 25% of, but cannot yet. Perhaps someday I will be so blessed.
So don't feel sorry for them. They are beautiful in their souls...in the most important way and the only thing God will ever look at when their time comes to leave this earth.
Truly beautiful young women.
No matter how the article's author manages to slip this in, it's still just as insensitive and cruel. I wonder how many here are chuckling inwardly while showing a stern face and fake compassion.
I'd be willing to bet that not one single person on this thread is "chuckling inwardly" as you put it.
The strength of these young ladies and the confidence they show in allowing the photographer to take these pictures has simply left me speechless and overawed. Kudos and kisses to them all.
The older you get, the more you know... KNOW... that beauty truly is on the inside. Way to go, all of you, for looking to find strength in adversity. You are the true role models.
i wish these very beautiful young women all the best in the future, i hope you have all the happiness in the world.
These girls don't want your sympathy, they want your understanding and for society to allow them to live their lives just as anyone else does. You see the same treatment of Cancer victims, those with medical disorders that cause them to be fat or those born with deformities....all they want is a chance at a normal life....people need to always remember a very old saying..."But for the grace of God, there go I".
Ladies you are in inspiration. I had friends as a teenager, twin brother and sister that were burned very young. I saw how they were treated, but some of the people I knew. Billy could not handle it, and in his early twenties took his own life. Jill is a wonderful women and mother. I hope your courage and strength is seen as a beacon of hope for other children or young adults facing thier own hardships. God bless you all.
Girls, your true beauty blinds me, your strength humbles me, and your courage places you with the greatest of heros. I am awed by the beings of light that each of you are. The love of the good people of this world is a great roaring flood beating down your doors. Stop and feel it. I know you can.
wonderful coverage---these girls are awesome for their strength, they're inspiring and their beauty shines through!