Father Christmas from the US!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Father Christmas
Father and Mother Xmas visiting Buenos Aires,Argentina 2004.


See photos of a great chap from the USA, Paullydog! Christmas 2004

It was Thursday December 23rd, early in the morning when Paul and Stephanie, both fom the USA,
arrived to Buenos Aires international Airport. Both of them were wearing
Xmas like Santa's hats so it was easier to meet. It was just a preview of
what was going to come.
As soon as we got to the hotel, I began to understand that this trip, this
couple had began, was not entirely about tourism. They had come all the way
from the States to Argentina to draw smiles, share their love and help, in
their own particular way, our country.
We had talked about this through email, they wanted to visit our children's
hospitals, they were very interested in bringing everything that was needed
from toys to medicines. But I thought they just wanted to share their
wealth, bring the items, leave them at any of the hospitals foundations and
keep on going with their tourism. It was nothing like this. I had contacted
a good friend of mine that was an ICU nurse at the Garrahan hospital in
Parque Patricios Buenos Aires. As soon as I told her about their idea she
got emotional and happy. We then arranged to meet at 6PM in front of the
hospital. The three of us joped on a cab plus two full suitcases filled with
beanie bears and toy cars and candy cains.
If we hadn't planned this visit in advance it would have been impossible to
enter the hospital with those two huge suitcases, but thankfully Vanina
Meza, ICU nurse was our contact. She guided us throughout this intense
experience, shared with us her smiles of gratitude and crossed eyes with us
when the situation got tougher.
Paul is a Santa lookalike fella, with his white beard and pink cheeks; but
his outside look was not the only resemblance with Santa Claus, he's a
goodhearted person, that together with his girlfirend Stephanie have been
doing this good deeds for several years now. As we went inside the hospital
they both put on their Santa hats and. Ohhhhhh! The magic began. We entered
each and every room in the hospital. As they walked into the rooms children'
s faces lighted, their smiles got wider and wider as they lived first hand
one of Christmas miracles charity.
All over the hospital children and parents hugged and thank this couple who
unselfishly shared their wealth within their hearts.
I would like to point out that they could have delivered their gifts through
a Children's Foundation, but they decided to go bed by bed, kissing and
hugging each and every one of the kids, each and every parent, each and ever
nurse and doctor, and thanking them for all their hard work and dedication,
to provide this baby souls the best possible life.
It was a one of a kind experience. Words are to stiff and hard for me to
explain the deep mark left in my heart and soul. I trully believe that
something like this happened to the rest of us there.
But there was one situation that sums up a bit of our gratitude and
gratefulness. When we entered the IC unit, on the last bed we visited there
was a middle aged woman with a baby. As soon as she saw us she bursted into
tears, as is she had seen the essence of love. She approched us and
explained in spanish asking me to translate that she was a mother of heart
taking care of her baby boy in critical condition. She was also a selfless
caregiver. She wasn't the baby's biological mom, but she had adopted him
through love. As she hugged Paul and Stephanie I understood what it was all
about. I felt complete. I felt that hope hasn't disppeard in this unpersonal
and critical world. That there's always something that can be done if you're
willing to.
For all this, I want to finish this small piece like this: Thank you Paul,
Thank you Stephanie, your kindness and love has given me back hope in life
and love. Thanks so much to all nurses and doctors who daily work to keep
these kids alive and help them every minute. To all the parents we met, and
the ones we didn't but are in the same situtation, I wish them well, I wish
all their wishes are granted and their kids are to be recovering soon.

By Florencia Rodrigues, editor of The Buenos Aires Art Deaeler.

Email Bob Frassinetti.
The Buenos Aires Art
Dealer,Argentina.

Bob Frassinetti. Copyright 2004. Roberto Dario Frassinetti.