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| CRISTHIAN AIDE WEARS A SOFT RUBBER-LIKE SUIT DOWN TO HER ANKLES TO PROTECT HER SENSITIVE SKIN |
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| CLAUDIA AND CRISTHIAN AIDE |
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| MY LITTLE HERO, CRISTHIAN |
Cristhian Aide is only 6 years old. But it can almost be said that Little Cristhian Aide has been to hell and back. The nightmare for her and her family started back in June of 2012, less than a year ago. Someone in her family had died or had been killed (not sure yet) and Cristhian's mother, Claudia, went to the funeral home. Claudia's mother and her sister also went to the funeral home. Cristhian Aide was also present. But while they were at the funeral home someone threw a "burning cocktail" into the middle of the crowd. The burning cocktail usually consists of gasoline inside of a bottle with a burning rag. The "bomb" exploded and the place caught fire immediately. I believe that there were more deaths, along with many very serious injuries. Cristhian Aide was the one who suffered the most in her immediate family. She received burns in 65% of her body. Her mom, Claudia, was burned in 45% of her body. Claudia's mother and sister were also burned but Cristhian Aide and Claudia were the most serious cases. Both their lives were hanging in the balance. With special permission from U.S. authorities Cristhian Aide and her father were flown to Galveston, Texas to a Shriner's Burn Center for children. Claudia was taken to a hospital in Chihuahua, Mexico. Thankfully both lived through the nightmare. However, since Cristhian's body is still growing she will need surgeries until the age of 21. Cristhian also received a hair transplant during the 4 1/2 months that she was in Galveston. She had lost her hair at the explosion site.
Claudia's husband had asked her not to attend the funeral on that day. Their two older children, a 10 year old girl and a 15 year old boy, stayed home.
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| SEE THE TIPS OF HER FINGERS |
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| BETY GARCIA GAVE HER A GIFT |
I came to know this family just a few weeks ago. A friend of mine here in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico asked me for assistance in getting Claudia a wheelchair. Claudia's back was injured at the funeral home and she was now working with U.S. Immigration trying to get a permit for Cristhian's next visit to Galveston. She had already missed the second appointment and she was not wanting to miss another one. The wheelchair was needed because she knew about the long lines at immigration and she knew that her pain back would cause problems during the long hours of waiting.
The day I brought them the wheelchair was when I first met this family. I was a very hard moment. I scanned the family with my eyes and it was almost surreal. I felt as if everything had gone into slow motion. I saw three adult females standing in front of me. Each one had burn scars. Claudia's arms were completely showing. She was wearing short sleeves. What I saw did not make my stomach weak but it made my eyes water. I fought the emotion. Then Cristhian Aide walks into the room. Without a doubt her small body had received the worst impact of the detonation. I knew that I couldn't cry in front of this child. I asked God for help. I had to be strong for her. I succeeded in keeping the tears under control but since then I have released a flood of tears in private.
I sat down and spoke with the family. I got to know them for a few minutes. Soon they would head over to the U.S. Immigration services to see about a permit to return to Galveston for Cristhian's next round of surgeries.
My next question was how they would make the 800 mile trip from El Paso to Galveston. They looked at me and they said that they had no idea. Claudia mentioned a bus but I knew that she could not sit that long. If a trip like that could be made it would take days under her conditions. The family didn't have any money. I wanted to help. I just HAD to help. But how?
I quickly got an idea. S.A.E.M.!!!! This ministry in El Paso had a van with a seat on the back that folded into a bed. If I could ask the director, Bety Garcia, to borrow it then I could drive them to Galveston and Claudia could make the trip sitting or lying down to accomodate her back pain. I called Bety Garcia at S.A.E.M., explained the situation, and she authorized the use of the van. S.A.E.M. and Bety Garcia continue to be a blessing to me. I knew the cost of gas alone for a van that gets 12 mpg would be high but that was of no concern right then. We had to get them to Galveston. When I told the family that I would take them I thought that they were going to kiss me. But I did get lots of hugs. They cried. Cristhian Aide was so excited about riding the big van that she hardly slept that night. The family told me later that it was all she spoke of.
It would not be until early the next morning (Thursday) at 1:30am before they were given a permit for Cristhian Aide and Claudia. They called to share the news and within minutes I was sitting back in their living room. Cristhian Aide had to be there by Monday afternoon. We planned to leave on Sunday at about 4pm, I would drive straight to Galveston, drop them off, and then I would have to head back to Juarez. And so we did.
When Cristhian was at Shriner's for the first time they put some kind of outfit on her that she says made her look like the Super-hero Iron Man. Now she says that she is Iron Man. So the Sunday that I picked them up from their house in Juarez I wore my Superman t-shirt. Cristhian smiled.
Along the way while Cristhian Aide slept Claudia and I visited for a short time. She told me that her husband blames her for Cristhian's condition since he had asked her not to go to the funeral home that day in June. For those reasons he has left her. He has even asked her and his kids to leave "his" house or he would get an attorney to file suit and have them put out. Claudia's older two kids feel neglected because of the amount of time she has to give to Cristhian. Claudia is under a lot of pressure. Claudia and her family are not Christians...,yet!
We got to Galveston a few hours early so we went to have breakfast at a McDonald's that just happened to have the ocean right by it. I asked my two guests if they would want to walk the beach before we headed to the hospital and the were happy that I asked. Then we headed to the Shriner's Hospital.
Cristhian Aide still remembers some of her care givers from her last visit at Shriner's. She wanted to see them and I tried to find them for her. I waited until they were well taken care of before I left the hospital. They went through a series of visits with hospital staff. In the meantime I sat in the lobby watching child after child whose little bodies had been severely burned. Some were missing limbs as they were completely burned off. I've always had difficulty restraining my tears but once again it was a must that I did not break down in front of these tiny precious ones. Once again I succeeded in doing so for the time being. Finally Claudia was being checked into her quarters at Ronald McDonald house and I could leave. She hugged me and we prayed together. They would be there for about a month. Although exhausted, I headed back home to Juarez. I arrived back in El Paso at 3:30am the next morning stopping for 2 hours of sleep. I lost many tears along the way as my mind could not erase those memories.
Since then Cristhian's surgery has been postponed because she came down with a cold. She needs to be at peak strength before her next surgery which will try to correct problems with her left hand. They may also try to do some work around her mouth. Her facial skin is so tight that when she opens her mouth her eye lids are pulled down. Eventually even her teeth will need replacement since the explosion did major damage to them.
I am looking forward to the call from Claudia telling me that it's time for me to come for them again. Cristhian Aide always gave me the sweetest little shy smile and I miss it.
Is this the work that a full-time missionary does? I've been called to Juarez and when God opens a door for me it's because He wants me to walk through it. I will do anything that will bring Him glory. And someday in the near future Claudia will be testifying about God's goodness to her, her daughter, and her family.
And all the glory will be God's.
Daniel Torres
650 Linwood Drive
El Paso, Texas 79928
1-501-827-7679
To enlarge the pictures just double click on them.
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