[gatagato]

Severely disfigured panhandler who set himself on fire for 'being a bad person' shares his moving tale of redemption

The tragic story of a Californian panhandler with severe self-inflicted burns been captured for the world to see, thanks to a passing photographer who chose to profile him.

Sasha Leahovcenco, 27, initially tried to avoid Reggie's request for some spare change as he sat in his car one afternoon in his hometown of Sacramento, but when he saw Reggie's disfigurement, he persuaded him to be filmed telling his story.

Reggie, 58, based close by, agreed; and says that after many unhappy years of being a 'bad person' he set himself on fire in a bid to end his life, but was 'visited by God' in hospital and miraculously survived.

Reggie's life didn't start off on the wrong foot.
'I had two good parents, liked school, graduated and did a couple of years of college,' he explains in the video Mr Leahovcenco shot. He later joined the military, married 'a wonderful young lady' and had children.

Reggie doesn't specify exactly what then led him down a dark path, but he says he was 'honorably discharged' from the military and became 'a different person.'

'I didn't have a heart, didn't care. I just did people wrong. Especially my kids,' he says. Reggie's wife left him after five years together, after which he re-married and had more children.
'We were doing drugs,' he explains. 'I was a nice looking guy and all the women wanted me. Then I got tired of being that person, on that day. July 23rd.
'So I went out to my garage, poured gasoline all over my body, went back into the house and asked somebody to give me a lighter. No one knew what it was for.
'I went back out to the garage and I just flicked it and "whoosh" - I'm on fire.'

Reggie ran outside and rolled over multiple times but failed to extinguish the flames.
'I ran out of breath so I just laid down on the concrete,' he said. Reggie was airlifted to hospital - where he says God came to him - spent three months in a coma and then endured a long succession of skin graft surgeries.

'That was the hardest battle I had in my life,' he says tearfully, adding: 'I'm stronger now. I'm still trying to find a different way.'
According to Mr Leahovcenco, Reggie lives with nephew now, who he takes care of.
'Enjoy your life,' Reggie says in the video. 'Try to be somebody. Because it doesn't matter who the president is, we still got to go to work.
'So let's be together. Let's be friends. We don't need more wars. Let's just be friends.'

Several Sacramento locals who are used to seeing Reggie panhandling have commented on Mr Leahovcenco's blog. Many pointed out that his disfigurement makes it hard for him to find work.
One by the name of Joy Mello wrote: 'I have known Reggie and his children for years and he is quite the character!
'His children are beautiful, grown and living their lives. I often ask him about them. He smiles his smile and tells me he has been in touch. That’s the important thing, he stays in touch.'
Another, named Monica, commented: 'I have met Reggie many times and have bought him meals. One time he was trying to gather money to get Christmas presents for his grandchildren. He really is a super nice man when you take the time and talk to him.'
As for Mr Leahovcenco, Reggie's story has had a last impression.
'This accidental encounter has brought a lot of positivity in my life,' he writes.
'I only ask that you pay close attention to what he’s got to say. His current attitude towards life, driven by the conclusions he made through his difficult times, is just as important as the journey itself.'

http://sashaleahovcenco.com/about/
[url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2924218/Severely-disfigured-panhandler-set-fire-bad-person-shares-moving-tale-redemption.html

[Lion-hearted Girl]

[kellyhound]

That shows that drugs are bad m'kay ?

[ralucagymnast]

Thats really sad that poor man.

[vagabond]

At the risk of incurring some wrath, I have mixed feelings about this guy... I have seen people with much worse disfigurements that have overcome their issues and become productive people, aside from panhandling.

[MesaGrande]

That's why everyone should say "NO" to drugs... Poor dude

[LadyCPlum]

Bad situation there.

[mintycbo]

"So I went out to my garage, poured gasoline all over my body, went back into the house and asked somebody to give me a lighter. No one knew what it was for."

What? Didn't anyone there know what Gasoline smells like?

Reggie - "Yo, gimme a lighter."
Idiots - "Oh, gasoline, you gunna burn somethin?"

[emarieu]

I have trouble feeling sorry for people who set themselves on fire. I don't buy his 'God' story either and he still looks pretty sly in the last pic....

[spudigitti]

What a mess....