Trumbull Times Article

John Westhaver Lecture

Trumbull Volunteer Fire Dept.

On Tuesday May 24th, 2005, members of the town’s three fire departments were given a lecture from John Westhaver an accident and burn survivor on making choices. John was injured in a traffic accident in 1994 and received first (1st) through fourth (4th) degree burns to seventy five (75%) percent of his body. Also in the tragic accident three of his friends were killed. After spending most of Tuesday talking to students in Trumbull High School and Saint Joseph’s High School he took time out to give an abbreviated session for the town’s fire departments. John spent over ninety (90) minutes talking about what happened to himself in the accident, his long and still ongoing recovery from his injuries, dealing with the loss of friends and his going out to talk to people all over the world who have also had some sort of tragedy like this. John then went on to answer various questions from the firefighters. John was then given a large round of applause for his courage and his taking time out for presenting this to all of us.

John was scheduled on Wednesday to give talks at schools in Stratford and Shelton also.

Also in attendance that evening were Steve Lupinacci a Stratford, Ct. Firefighter to talk about a group that he is involved in, in Stratford to help burn survivors and prevent people from getting burned. Also Dick Popolowski from the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation (www.ctburnsfoundation.org ) gave a brief presentation on what they due for burn survivors.

John Westhaver can be contacted through his website at www.jmmspeaking.com.