HER HEART FIXED, GIRL TO RETURN HOME FOSTER FAMILY HATES TO LET TODDLER GO.Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer AGOURA HILLS - The Bachelis family took in a toddler named Abi so she could mend her heart, and now that they're in love with her, she's about to break theirs. Abi Vega Cruz came to Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, from Quito, Ecuador, seven months ago to have a life-threatening heart defect repaired. The 2-year-old was born with a heart muscle so big it couldn't pump properly. She underwent two surgeries at UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital A children's hospital is a hospital which offers its services exclusively to children. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties. , paid for through a fund supported by actor Mel Gibson Noun 1. Mel Gibson - Australian actor (born in the United States in 1956) Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson, Gibson U.S.A., United States, United States of America, US, USA, America, the States, U.S. . Now, she's a ball of energy who loves dressing up as a University of California, Los Angeles UCLA comprises the College of Letters and Science (the primary undergraduate college), seven professional schools, and five professional Health Science schools. Since 2001, UCLA has enrolled over 33,000 total students, and that number is steadily rising. , cheerleader and watching her foster brother's basketball games. She has recovered so well, in fact, that she will return home to Quito on Wednesday, just in time for Christmas. And while it's been uplifting to watch her recover, it will be heart-rending to see her leave, said her volunteer foster mother, Jamie Bachelis. ``When we first got Abi, we were told we would fix a heart and break our own,'' she said. ``... This incredible journey that we have taken will live on in our hearts forever.'' The family volunteered to host Abi through Santa Clarita-based Healing the Children and The Two Marias International Children's Fund, named for the twin Guatemalan girls who were conjoined conjoined /con·joined/ (kon-joind´) joined together; united. conjoined joined together. conjoined monsters two deformed fetuses fused together. at the head and surgically separated at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX in 2002. The Bachelises had a personal interest in getting involved. Their daughter, Sarah, now 13, was born with five heart defects and has undergone four successful surgeries at UCLA. Dr. Juan Alejos, associate professor of pediatric pediatric /pe·di·at·ric/ (pe?de-at´rik) pertaining to the health of children. pe·di·at·ric adj. Of or relating to pediatrics. cardiology at Mattel, praised Abi and the family, calling them remarkable. ``The Bachelises have done an extraordinary job getting her through very difficult surgeries,'' he said. Abi arrived in Agoura Hills on May 5, a shy and sick 18-month-old. She hardly made a peep, Jamie Bachelis said. ``I couldn't tell if she didn't feel well or if it was because she didn't know anyone here,'' she said. Eight days later, she was on an operating table, a surgeon's blade sectioning out pieces of her heart and repairing a hole in it, a condition called a ventricle ventricle /ven·tri·cle/ (ven´tri-k'l) a small cavity or chamber, as in the brain or heart.ventric´ular ventricle of Arantius the rhomboid fossa, especially its lower end. septal defect septal defect See Atrial septal defect, Ventricular septal defect. . A month later, a doctor implanted a pacemaker pacemaker Source of rhythmic electrical impulses that trigger heart contractions. In the heart's electrical system, impulses generated at a natural pacemaker are conducted to the atria and ventricles. . As if that wasn't enough, Abi also suffers from hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a hereditary disease that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. and has been wearing a brace for five months to help improve her condition. After leaving the hospital, she was practically a brand new girl, singing and dancing, speaking both her native Spanish and a little English, and watching sports, Jamie Bachelis said. ``Since the surgery, she has become a very happy child,'' she said. ``... I wish we didn't have to give her up.'' Abi arrived for her surgery thanks to the Two Marias fund, established in October 2004. Gibson donated $5 million to provide the hospital with reimbursement for medical care to children from foreign countries unable to afford care at home. To date, 27 children have come to UCLA through Two Marias. The fund pays for a patient's medical expenses, but Healing the Children and the foster families take care of travel and day-to-day expenses, which average about $2,500 per child. To qualify for treatment, children must have serious medical conditions See carpal tunnel syndrome, computer vision syndrome, dry eyes and deep vein thrombosis. for which they are unable to be treated in their own countries. At UCLA, cardiology, neurology, optometry optometry (ŏptŏm`ətrē), eye-care specialty concerned with eye examination, determination of visual abilities, diagnosis of eye diseases and conditions, and the prescription of lenses and other corrective measures. and cancer specialists have helped children from 1 to 18 years old. Gibson also donated another $5 million to Cedars Sinai Medical Center and has funded trips by medical teams to treat children in their own countries, said Chris Embleton, director and founder of Healing the Children. ``He's really saved the lives of hundreds of kids,'' said Embleton, who founded the group 28 years ago after her adopted daughter died from an infection that started in her eye. The Bachelises helped Abi through some of the most difficult times she will ever face. ``For Abi, it was really touch-and-go for a while,'' she said. ``Her heart problems were very complicated. Her foster family adores that child. Because of the love and care they gave to her, we now have a precious girl who has a bright future.'' Eric Leach, (805) 583-7602 eric.leach(at)dailynews.com HOW TO HELP To contribute to the Two Marias International Children's Fund or become a foster family, call Healing the Children at (661) 288-1957. For information about the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, go to www.mattel.ucla.edu. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- ran in Valley edition only) Dad Dave Bachelis, mom Jamie, daughter Sarah and son Michael are finding it difficult saying goodbye to 2-year-old Abi Vega Cruz, who came from Ecuador five months ago to have defects in her heart repaired while living with the family in Agoura Hills. (2 -- color in Verb 1. color in - add color to; "The child colored the drawings"; "Fall colored the trees"; "colorize black and white film" color, colorise, colorize, colour in, colourise, colourize, colour Simi edition only -- ran in Simi and SAC editions only) Dad Dave Bachelis, mom Jamie, daughter Sarah and son Michael are finding it difficult saying goodbye to 2-year-old Abi Vega Cruz, who came from Ecuador five months ago to have defects in her heart repaired while living with the family in Agoura Hills. The toddler returns home this week, just in time for Christmas. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer Box: (ran in Simi and SAC editions only) HOW TO HELP (see text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion