CREATING MIRACLES
March 28, 2011
They came from Poland, Russia, the hills of Mexico, the Ukraine, war-town El Salvador, China, the sunny beaches of Jamaica (British West Indies,) Guinea,
the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic ... they came to a place that was foreign to them, full of language and cultural challenges. They came for the greatest gift of all, the gift of the rest of their lives!! Gift of Life is a worldwide, nation-to-nation partnership that aids children with seriously defective hearts. It's a program sponsored by Rotary International. The strangers who welcomed these small, frail newcomers had smiling faces, open arms and giving hearts. I was one of those who welcomed these GIFT OF LIFE children into MY heart. Some say "it takes a village," but Rotary International's Gift of Life program takes a community of caring. Hundreds of special people make this program happen. I elected to work with our local Rotary Clubs to produce a television documentary about the children and the program that so generously offered them a chance to fulfill their hopes and dreams for tomorrow...through the miracle of cardiac surgery, yet unavailable in their homelands.
I'm blogging about this now because when I was with these children (for 6-7 weeks each...from arrival to departure,) it didn't occur to me to journal about it and of course, because it was the early '90s, I couldn't blog or discuss it on Facebook either...they weren't available! How our world has changed!! I'm writing now because I've been in touch with 4 of these children and their Moms, on and off, through all these years. Now in their mid-20's, they're living productive, happy, healthy lives. Until recently, we've exchanged letters and it took FOREVER to connect.
Now, with Facebook and email, we talk and exchange photos instantly and frequently...it's miraculous!! They were between 7 and 9 years old when I first met them all...I'd like for YOU to meet them!
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| This is Dasha. She traveled about 5000 miles, her Mom in tow, from the Ukraine, to undergo a sort of rebirth...to receive that Gift of Life that would not only extend but greatly improve her life. The photo above was taken just after Dasha's surgery. She was 7 1/2 at the time. |
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| This is Dasha one year after her surgery and she's thriving!! |
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| Today Dasha is a happily married woman and mother of 2. She was my first GOL child and she and her Mom have a very special place in my heart. |
Although many boys and girls came in the hopes of being healed, my heart went mostly to the 3 of the girls AND ONE BOY...this is Jenia.
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This is not a proper introduction, but here's Evgeniy (Jenia) just hours after his life-giving surgery. He and his Mom always had so much fun together...they laughed alot and were clearly good friends. I'm surprised that he's not a stand-up comedian today!
Jenia is now 24 and an emerging law student. (I'll bet he uses his sense of humor in the courtroom...) Here he is, several years ago, with his little sister, Alexandra.
Sveta and her Mom came to us all the way from Siberia. They probably had the roughest trip of all and the longest distance to travel...some of it standing up !!!
Notice how purple Sveta's lips appear...one of the symptoms of her heart ailment. They became perfectly pink almost immediately following her surgery...as it was with the others. When our daughter was working as a videographer (like Mother...like Daughter) for Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships, we took a cruise through Russia and surrounding areas. We made plans to meet Sveta and her Mom, Ascia, in St. Petersburg. We hired an interpreted/guide for the day and spent a glorious time together hugging, holding hands and being very grateful for our chance to reunite. My husband and daughter enjoyed the reunion as well! We're hoping we'll have that opportunity again. Actually, I hope to see ALL the GOL young adults with whom I've been in touch all these years...almost 20 years for some...again.
Sveta is now a practicing Psychiatric Social Worker in Russia and has someone special in her life. I think there'll be a wedding in the not-too-distant future!!
Sveta and her Mom weren't the only Gift of Life friends with whom I reconnected in their homeland. When my husband and I traveled to China, we met Ying Ying and her entire family. We, too, spent the day and evening together in Xi'an where we not only enjoyed one another but also enjoyed seeing some of the sights...the famous TERRA COTTA WARRIORS from the Qi Dynasty (221B.C.) as well as dinner and a cultural variety show.
This is a fairly recent photo of Ying Ying...I can't seem to find my photos of her when she was here for surgery and recuperation. She's so lovely...and HEALTHY!!
We loved meeting Ying's whole family...her little sister was Ying's age when she came to us for her surgery. Below are highlights of what we did in Xi'an, China with Ying Ying Kang and her family.
What these photos can't show are the feelings I had reuniting with those dear to me whom I hadn't seen in between 6 and 8 years. I was humbled to discover how much our friendship meant and how much they appreciated all that the Gift of Life community had done for them. The families were so busy with a whirlwind of activities when they were here...meeting people, going places, seeing multiple doctors, taking tests...waiting...resting...watching...and praying. Until their surgeries, talk of tomorrows were words laced with uncertainty, but the American surgical team did the work of angels. Each recipient had a heart approaching normal when returning home...truly miracles!!!
Rotary International continues to sponsor the global Gift of Life program. As of 2008 (from 1974 when the program started,) many more than 10,000 children from our global family have a chance to fulfill any and all of their hopes and dreams.
The GIFT OF LIFE is about family, community, commitment- it's also about friendship, love and thanksgiving...one family reaching out, caring for and sharing with members of our global family...working to save the lives of children who could be ours and return them to lives that should be theirs. These courageous families fought hard for that gift of the rest of their lives and thanks to Rotary International and local Rotaries who sponsored these children, moments were shared that no one forget...EVER! The rest of the story is being written every day by the Gift of Life children themselves...
With a grateful heart,
xox, abbyj
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