Donna Schneck
A Phenomenal Burn Survivor

by Brandi Bard


When first meeting Donna Schneck, the very attractive Realtor pictured here, no one would know that this smiling grandmother of four was a trauma patient after being severely burned in an accidental restaurant fire in 1980.

While Donna and her husband Stephen were visiting Toronto Canada, on a combined business and pleasure trip, Donna ordered Steak Diane, a flaming dish prepared by a waiter at the table using ignited brandy. The waiter used far too much of the liqueur and when he tilted the pan, the flames engulfed Donna, causing second and third degree burns on her face, neck and hands as she tried to beat out the fire. Donna remembered thinking that she should fall to the floor and roll on the carpet, but that too did not stop the fire. A fast thinking fellow diner in the restaurant took off his own jacket and attempted to smother the flames for her, but when his coat was removed from Donna, it allowed more oxygen to re-ignite the flames.

Mrs. Schneck, who lives in Grosse Point, Michigan, was taken to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. But since she was not a resident of Canada, and thereby not covered by that countries socialized medicine, all she could receive was basic medical treatment, which did not include being seen in a burn department of the hospital. She was put in a room with very unhealthy conditions, as there was exposed human waste in that room. After one week, she was flown back to Michigan's Bon Secoure Hospital, which also unfortunately had no burn unit for her care.

When asked to name a doctor of her choice, the only name she could remember was that of a physician who had removed a mole near her ear three or four years before. He was a Plastic Surgeon and accepted her again as a patient. A year later while at a library, Mrs. Schneck found the name of Dr. Irving Feller, who is regarded to be the father of burn medicine. He subsequently performed both plastic reconstructive and cosmetic surgery on Donna.

During her recovery at the hospital in Ann Arbor Michigan, there was a support group just for patients at the hospital, but it was not available after leaving that facility. Donna said, "I knew it was important for me to belong to a support group, so when there was none, I decided to form my own." Donna says, "I want to say that people come to support groups not because they are weak, but because they want to stay strong." She then founded 'BURNS UNITED SUPPORT GROUP INC.'. a peer led nonprofit organization for adult or children burn survivors. She says "I want to make the distinction that we are not burn victims, we are burn survivors."

Currently there are chapters of Burns United Support Groups in Michigan, Mississippi and Wisconsin. People interested in learning more about this wonderful organization can call (313) 8815577 or write to PO Box 36116, Grosse Point Farms, MI 48236.

My Handi-Capable Reporter is sure that our readers in Southern California also are sending good thoughts for recovery to Bill Jensen, Scott French, Ed Ackerman, Guy Tomlinson, Richard Kirkwood, and Ross Torstenbo, courageous L.A./Glendale Fire Fighters who were badly burned themselves while fighting the Malibu fires this year. These heroes have now been released from various hospitals and are continuing their phenomenal recoveries. Some are already back at work fighting fires. We will keep you informed on their progress as we learn more about each case.