Karen's Story

Even though I’ve only been working at Baca Ortiz for a few short months, I
feel like the time I have put in there has really made a difference, not
only with the children, but in my own life. The thing that has made the
biggest impact on me is the strength of the children in this hospital.
Though they are infected with a life-threatening illness and having to
receive painful treatments, the children never fail to give you a warm,
appreciative smile when you walk in the room. It amazes me every day that
even though all of the children at Baca Ortiz are stuck in a terrible,
uncontrollable situation, they never seem to lose their sense of wonder or
imagination. The very first day I worked at Baca Ortiz I was coloring
with a little girl who had just undergone chemotherapy earlier that
morning and occasionally during our time together, she would have to put
her marker down and roll over to her side because you could tell she was
in immense pain. I felt sympathetic for her and completely helpless to do
anything for her pain, but after a minute of suffering, she would turn
back around and softly whisper “ok, I’m ready to color again”.

I think it’s these qualities in children; strength, endurance, and
serenity, that make what La Fundacion Por Una Vida such an important
program. Without their financial assistance, some of these amazing
children wouldn’t be able to afford the medical attention they need to
share everything they have to give, with the rest of the world.
-Karen