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they consider supporting the recently finished R.I.S.E. orphanage in Colonia Pasoancho. My suggestions from Gale got Vicky quickly organizing a collection of baby supplies by her students, and their parents. She said that they had a great time gathering things together and even organized a baby shower prior to her trip where the participating students and parents enjoyed ogling over all the cute things they’d put together for her to bring down to Vallarta.

Once Vicky and her friend Cindy arrived in Vallarta, Gale offered to take them to the R.I.S.E. orphanage so that they could personally deliver their items. Iva Hankel and I also went along and we all had a wonderful visit at the orphanage. We were pleasantly surprised to find it such a clean, spacious and cheerful facility. The children’s bedrooms were all spruced up with bright colored bedspreads and the dining area was decorated with brightly framed Anne Gheddes baby posters. We all had a nice time visiting with the children, holding and cuddling with babies and getting our “baby fix” for the day. Vicky and Cindy unloaded their supplies and were thoroughly pleased to see the smiles and delight that their offerings brought to the children.

Not only did Vicky and Cindy generate a donation of many useful supplies for the orphanage, but they also submitted to the IFC a $500 USD check from the Steffen Middle School Student Council to be used for the orphanage. It was a pleasure meeting Vicky and Cindy, two energetic and enthusiastic school teachers from Wisconsin with hearts of gold and a true desire to help those in need and to make a positive contribution for the children at the R.I.S.E. orphanage.

And finally, I would like to detail my involvement with three new patients of our Patricino program. It all began last June when I received e-mail from Kathi Davis-Milner in Washington.  She explained in her e-mail how one year ago she helped a young boy in Mismaloya who had injured his foot while boogie boarding. The boy’s name is Santos and he is a local boy from the area. At that time, Kathi noticed that this boy had one crossed-eye. One year later, Kathi returned to Vallarta and couldn’t stop thinking about Santos and how she’d like to help him with his eye problem. So, she searched for him in Mismaloya during this recent visit and easily found him and met his family as well. She met his younger sister, Maria Isabel, who also had a similar eye problem, yet more severe. Kathi’s strong desire to help these children set her on a path of searching for possible assistance programs that finally lead to us. I reviewed Kathi’s first e-mail with Patricia Mendez who explained that we might be able to help these children through our Patricino program. I volunteered to find Santos and Maria Isabel as I live fairly near Mismaloya and easily located them as all the locals know each other. I met with the children’s parents, Amelia and Santos Sr. Avalos, and found them enthusiastic about pursuing medical help for their children. Later that week, I brought Patricia Mendez with me to Mismaloya to meet the family and she completed our socio-economic study for our Patricino program. At the end of our meeting with the family, Patricia approved them for our program and I agreed to be the family’s sponsor. She referred us to Ophthalmologist Dr. Monica Rosensweig, who had worked with some of our patients in the past.

During the months of June and July I was busy scheduling eye exams, carting the children to the Regional Hospital for blood work and finally their surgeries. By mid July both surgeries were completed for the children to correct their crossed-eyes.  Dr. Rosensweig also diagnosed the father, Santos Sr. who had cloudy growths on the cornea of each eye that would eventually lead to blindness if gone untreated. Patricia approved treatment for Santos Sr. as well and Dr. Rosensweig surgically cleaned the cornea of one eye last June and the other eye in September.

The outcome of my involvement with the Avalos family of Mismaloya has been so positive in many respects. I was able to witness first hand how our strong relationships with Dr. Rosensweig and the Regional Hospital, relationships which Patricia Mendez has helped build and maintain, have allowed us to help this family. Dr. Rosensweig was completely cooperative with our request to examine the children and their father and willingly donated a substantial amount of her time and valuable skills to all three Patricino patients. The Regional Hospital also donated their surgery rooms for the eye surgeries that Dr. Rosensweig performed on the two children and we were able to help these children without incurring any hospital charges.

I have also benefited from the positive correspondence that I have had with Kathi Davis-Milner as I kept her abreast of our progress with the Avalos family. She has been overjoyed with what our organization was able to accomplish. In one e-mail she wrote “As I read your e-mail, tears of thanksgiving once again rose to the surface. So many lives have been dramatically affected by all that has and continues to transpire. Through you and your wonderful organization, Santos, Maria Isabel and their family’s lives are forever changed.”

And finally, the Avalos family sincerely thanks us for all that we have done for them. I’ve recently visited Maria Isabel and Santos Jr., a few weeks after their surgeries now, and they greeted me with big smiles and hugs. I see a new sparkle in Maria Isabel’s face that I hadn’t seen before, as she shyly avoided eye contact prior to her surgery, embarrassed by her crossed eye. And Santos Jr. is all smiles when he confirms for me that he is seeing much better now.

In closing, I would like to add, that what I expected would be an interesting administrative job that fit in nicely with my 4-year-old’s pre-school schedule has surprisingly involved me with incredibly rewarding experiences of generosity, enthusiasm, and hope.