Yesenia, 11 years old, and her mother, Marlene, arrived in August 1997. Yesenia was a very tired little girl, with no strength at all. She had many problems with her heart. It took eight hours on the operating table to change her to a healthy and happy youngster.

In Honor of
ABE SHAMES
Michele & Frank Wieckowski

August 1996 brought 14 month old Herbert and his mother, Roxana. Diagnosed with a hole in his heart, he undergoes an operation with favorable results. Roxana told us that her father-in-law had warned her to be very wary when she came to Tampa. He said that nobody does anything for nothing. She wrote that four carloads of relatives had driven four hours over unpaved country roads to greet them at the airport. We are sure that Roxana's father-in-law found out that Rotarians do great deeds out of the goodness and love that is in their hearts.

Compliments of
Mr. Robert J. Coffman & Mrs. Ruth Coffman

In May of 1998, nine month old Joanna arrived, weighing 10 pounds less than her twin sister. Her mother, Rosa, who is a doctor, described the conditions that prevail in the hospitals in El Salvador where sometimes not even aspirin was available. An operation closed the hole in her heart, and a healthy girl went home to catch up to her twin sister.

Compliments of
Dr. Peter F. & Marie A. Nowosielski

In May of 1996, 2 ½-year-old Daniela arrived. We go through the same routine, pick her up at the Tampa Airport, then the Ronald McDonald House, doctor visits, and finally the six hour operation to close the hole in her heart. Five days later a bouncy, chipper little girl climbs the stairs back to the Ronald McDonald House. Her mother, Claudia, comments, "My child was born once in El Salvador, and a second time in the United States."

Compliments of
Rotary Marco Island Sunrise