Luz Estephanie Macchiavello del Castillo

Here and Gone

2010-04-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Gosh that was a fast visit. Luz is back home in Juanjui, Peru, as I write this. Enith and Luz left Friday and arrived in Lima Saturday AM. Met by Eliana Morla, they then boarded a flight to Tarapoto where Dad, Hilmer, was waiting.
Luz' visit, though short, was very successful. She now has a new prosthesis which is just a little different from her old one. She had some intense therapy sessions with Carmen Aranda at Shriners, and both Luz and Enith stayed at Shriners as in-patients for her last 1 1/2 weeks here.
After a "Going Home" dinner at La Septima Restaurant in Brandon, Luz and Enith had one last night with Nestor and Isabel Salazar, their hosts for this year. Too early, I picked them up Friday for the drive to Tampa Airport.
We are hoping to advance their visit next year so that she does not lose any time from school. The school year in Peru is opposite from the US and the annual break is in December. So we are looking forward to her visit in December or first week in January. Maybe a Christmas gift?

Luz Arrives 2010

2010-02-25T18:50:00.000-08:00

A year has passed since she was last in Tampa. Luz has grown but is still the sometimes bashful, sometimes assertive little girl that left us last March. Luz and her Mom, Enith, will be staying with friends in Valrico while keeping appointments at Shriners Hospital. Luz and her friend, Veronica met again after a years absence, although both live in Peru.
In photo at right, at Tampa International Airport, Veronica and her Mom, Ynes(on left) Luz and her Mom, Enith(on right) Nestor Salazar,(in rear) Luz and Enith's host family, and yours truly. Happy days are here again.

Luz' 2010 Visit

2010-01-08T18:27:00.000-08:00

A few of the latest photos from Hilmer taken in Juanjui, Peru, Luz' home. The boat is a major form of transportation around Juanjui. Luz has always loved to dance. The sound of music starts her moving. Also one with her nephew.

Luz has grown and is headed back to Brandon/Tampa for her annual appointment at Shriners Hospital. Several of us will be in Juanjui from Jan 16 thru Jan 24. Luz and her Mom, Enith, will accompany us on the return trip. We expect her time in Brandon this year will be rather short, possibly as little as three weeks. Hopefully she will be here over Valentines Day.

I promise to bring a load of photos when I return and will try to post some here. Many thanks for the continued support of Luz.

Gone Again

2009-03-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

By the time you read this Luz and Hilmer are

back home in Peru. So we start the wait all over again until their next visit, likely late 2009. There were no tears this year, at least not on the surface.

With both Luz and Veronica gone it gets kind of lonely sometimes. But our loneliness will soon be alleviated. With the help of Eliana and others we may soon be in a position to assist others, like Luz and Veronica to gain the help they need. We will soon publish an additional blog regarding the mission of The Luz Foundation. The website address will be published here and in emails. If you wish to receive the information please use the comment link at the bottom of this post.

Because this may be last post specifically about Luz for this year, we decided to post some photos about her time in Tampa this year. Meeting, and living together has brought out, not only the competitiveness of both girls, but also their compassionate side and their feelings of closeness to each other. We see this everyday and also in some of the photos presented here.

Both girls have dreams of the future. Luz wants to become a doctor for children. Veronica wants to become a teacher. Both have exhibited a strong desire and the ability to learn. Hilmer says that Luz does excellent work in school. Veronica has not attended school for several years but exhibits the intelligence and learning ability of an older child. I am sure it will not take long for her to catch up.

Advance education in Peru, as in many countries, has been much easier for boys to acquire than for girls. However, we have made some contacts recently that may hold the promise of an advance university education for both Luz and Veronica, if they desire.

Trying to eat a chocolate cupcake.

With Dahlia and Ron Fernandez at La Septima Restaurant.

An exciting Sunday at Coquina Key.

So until we meet again next year, same time, same place, Adios.

It's a Small World after all.

2009-02-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

Three years ago in 2006, Maria and Herbert Espinoza were visiting Lima, Peru. While watching local TV there was a story about a little girl from Juanjui, a small village in the Amazon region of Peru, who was run over by a motorcycle taxi and severely injured. The child was brought to Los Ninos Hospital in Lima but because of the long journey, 14 hours, her right arm could not be saved and required amputation. That little girl was Luz.

Maria and Herbert remembered that TV story and, although they had never met Luz, thought about her often through the years. Fast forward to December 24, Christmas Eve 2008. Luz arrives at Tampa International Airport to start her current treatment and rehab at Shriners Hospital. The first week in February, Tampa's Bay News 9, tapes a short story about Luz and broadcasts it on their spanish language station. Guess who was watching? Yes, Maria and Herbert again watched a TV story about a little girl from the jungles of Peru. But this time things would be different. The next day Maria and Herbert drove to Shriners expecting to visit Luz. They were told her appointment was the following day. So they went home and came back again the next day. They were waiting in the lobby when we walked in the door. They walked up to us and said, "This must be Luz". Although they had never met, it seemed like a family reunion when we heard the story. Now Maria and Herbert are like an extended family.

Monday is for Veronica

2009-02-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy weekend. Saturday saw many hours spent at the annual Gasparilla parade in Tampa. For the second time in a week the girls were the recipients of a kaleidescope of colored beads. After the parade it was back home and a visit from Gerry and John Pearce who drove in from Jacksonville to visit Luz and Veronica. Gerry and John have been exceptional supporters of the girls and their families. A late but great dinner at La Septima Restaurant in Brandon and a visit from Ron Fernandez, owner of La Septima, finished the day.

A fairly quiet Sunday saw church services with Linda at Bell Shoals and then a relaxing day getting ready for Shriners. Veronica and Ynes will be spending the next two weeks there for some intensive therapy. Visit Veronica's blog for more information at: http://veronica-andes.blogspot.com/

Finished at Shriners

2009-02-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

Luz had her last appointment, for this visit, at Shriners last week. Her surgery site has healed and she will start wearing her re-adjusted prosthesis. Too soon she and Hilmer will head home to Peru until this time next year. Luz best friend, Veronica, will spend the next two weeks at Shriners for some extensive therapy. Then both girls will head home. Kathy and Angel from Channel 9 stopped by to take some video that was aired this past week. We thank them for the exposure. However, the next two weeks will be exciting with the Gasparilla Invasion and the State Fair. Mom and Dad will likely be happy to return to the relative quiet of Amazon and the Andes.

Surgery Day

2009-01-29T19:03:00.000-08:00

Jan 13 was surgery day for Luz. A small revision would enable her to wear her arm with no discomfort. Scheduled for late in the day it is likely she will stay the night at Shriners. Always skeptical when surgery is involved, Luz was a little pensive this morning. Eli and Hilmer were able to convince her of the need and that they would both be there when she awoke.

After short visit from Dr Grogan, her surgeon, and the Anesthesiologist, Luz was under sedation and fast asleep in teddy bear land.

The surgery went well but Luz would spend the night with Eli and Hilmer by her side until she awoke. As it worked out, Luz spent a second night at Shriners so they could send her home with just a small dressing on her arm. Her next visit would be January 27 when the dressing would be removed.

Catch Up

2009-01-27T16:48:00.001-08:00

I'll try to bring you up to date in this post. Luz has been busy. Not many visits to Shriners but quite busy around town. We did go to Shriners on Jan 6. At that time they examined the small cyst on Luz' arm and decided the best course of action was surgery. It would be a minor procedure, but any procedure with someone with Luz history is a major one for her. She appeared a little anxious but accepting. This was expected as Luz seems to get a little nervous even when a tech uses a pair of scissors near her arm.

Surgery was scheduled for Jan 13. That leaves a week for relaxing and visiting around town. There is a circus near the house, sponsored by the International Showmens Association. So we gathered everyone and head for the big top.

It wasn't Barnum and Baily but the girls enjoyed it. Part of the show was a juggler from Lima Peru. I think Eli enjoyed the show as much as Luz and Veronica in their ringside seats.

It was a beautiful sunshine day in Tampa and the fresh air took a toll on everyone. We were no sooner back home and it looked like 'nap' time, even for Papa.

New Girl in Town - Dec 30

2008-12-31T19:24:00.000-08:00

A second child from Peru, Veronica, arrived today at Tampa Airport. She and her mother, Ynez, will join Luz at their quarters in east Tampa. Veronica has spent the past sixteen months in the Pediatric Ortho Ward at Los Ninos Hospital, Lima, Peru. Veronica is nine years old and a triple amputee and has been accepted as a patient at Shriners, Tampa, the same as Luz. They became instant friends. Luz is missing part of her right arm, Veronica is missing part of her left arm. Veronica also has no legs. We have started a weblog for Veronica, just as we did this one for Luz. Veronica's weblog is located at: http://veronica-andes.blogspot.com/

If you think you might want to edit and publish the blog for Veronica let me know. It is really an easy task and will give a different writing perspective to Veronica's blog as opposed to Luz'.

Christmas Day 2008

2008-12-26T21:45:00.000-08:00

After dinner on Christmas Eve, we cut out and glued construction paper decorations and hung them on the tree. Soon Luz fell fast asleep and Nancy and I said our goodnights and left before Santa Claus arrived. On Christmas Day we found that Santa had left many gifts under the tree. Luz finished with her decorations and opened gifts. Papa Noel had found Luz in spite of the distance from her home.

We all agreed, with no lights or commercial decorations, it was the most beautiful Christmas tree we had seen.

A turkey dinner with all the trimmings, even a pumpkin pie made the day perfect.

Christmas Eve

2008-12-26T14:29:00.000-08:00

Luz arrived in Tampa on Christmas Eve after a long journey from her village of Juanjui, Peru. She slept through much of the boat and plane rides over the 2 1/2 days of travel and arrived at Tampa Airport at 10:00 AM Christmas Eve. After a short rest period at the house, we headed to Sacred Heart Church in Tampa for the Childrens Christmas Pageant and Christmas Eve Mass.

Eliana arrived by train from Miami, where her flight from Peru landed yesterday but there was no connecting flight to Tampa. After mass we met Eli at the train station and headed back to the house for a waiting Christmas Eve dinner of Chicken, Yellow Rice, Black Beans and Tamales. It was good to have our little girl back with us again.

An artificial Christmas Tree had appeared but lacked any decorations. What better way to spend Christmas Eve than with those you love making decorations for a Christmas tree. More later.

Additional Thanks

2008-12-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

Luz has friends in Jacksonville, Florida.
If you are hungry and in Jacksonville, FL, or anyplace within 100 miles of Jacksonville, it would be worth the effort to head to Piscos Restaurant. Sorry, no "Cuy", but everything else Peruvian can be found on the great menu, put together by Virginia and her staff. Evelyn or Elise will be happy to serve you. In my own opinion, the Parihuela is the best. While there, drop a donation in the jar for Luz.
Piscos Restaurant
Pescados, Mariscos y Comida Criolla
4131 Southside Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32216
Tel: 904 646 3888

Additional locations where you can find donation containers have been established at:
Rene's Barbershop
306 W. Robertson Ave
Brandon
(near the SunTrust Drive thru)
See Teri or Rene for the best haircuts.
They made me look like Brad Pitt
Well.....almost...

The Young Texans Produce
South Parsons at Wheeler Road
Brandon
Only the best, Produce, Plants,
Paving Stones and Landscaping.
Their Boiled Peanuts are the best.

Thanks local merchants

2008-11-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

Thanks are due to several local business establishments for their support of the Luz medical Expense Fund. Carisa Cannon, a writer for the Osprey Observer, located in Brandon,(http://www.ospreyobserver.com/), was kind enough to write an article about Luz and our efforts.

Also with offerings of support are several restaurants and cafes located in the Brandon/Tampa areas who have posted the flyer and a donation jar, shown on the right above.

Those locations are:

Sabero Latin Cuisine

(Not a typical Spanish Restaurant)

MLK Blvd & Lakewood Rd.

Mango, Florida

Liborios Latin Cafe

813-623-1318

http://www.liborioslatincafe.com/

8210 Causeway Blvd

Tampa, FL

Tapas Restaurant

813-621-8666

(Pinewood Business Park)

1202 Tech Blvd

Brandon, FL

LaCubanita Restaurant

813-661-2253

723 Lumsden Rd

Brandon, FL

I can personally attest to the quality and taste of their menu items. All have take out dinners and great food, cuban sandwiches and Cafe con Leche. So the next time you don't feel like cooking stop by, and drop a few bills in the jar for Luz.

Travel Delay for Luz

2008-10-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

The latest information from Peru is that Luz arrival in Tampa will need to be delayed until later in the year, possibly late December or even January. There are some identification issues with the US Embassy in Lima that need to be arranged. Luz school teacher has also suggested that it would be best if Luz could finish the current school year, December 20, so she would not need to repeat a grade.
Please continue to consider your support for Luz and contributions to the expense fund set up for her. Information is provided in the right hand margin of this blog. Thanks for your continued interest.

Luz is returning to Tampa

2008-06-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

October 20, 2008 is set for Luz first appointment back at Shriners Hospital. She is anxiously looking forward to visiting Tampa again. Although the date is set, there are still visa applications to process before we can officially say what date she will arrive. The US Embassy in Lima, Peru, holds that key.

Again I want to thank all who contributed to support the transportaion and living expenses of Luz and her Dad, Hilmer last year. We were able to feed Luz all the ice cream she could eat and sent them home with a small amount to help ease the strain of Hilmer being unable to run the family farm for the nine weeks they were here in Tampa. We hope you can again help provide the comfort to make them feel at home. Directions for contributions are listed on the right side of this blog. If you need additional information please feel free to call me at any time. Cell# 813-215-0071.

Goodbye Luz

2007-08-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

Although today was a happy day, Luz was headed back to Peru, there were many tears. Yesterday, as they were packing many bags with clothing and gifts, Luz announced to everyone that when she leaves she did not want to see anyone crying. This, from a 5 year old little girl. If you have been following the entries in this blog since Luz arrived in Tampa, you are already aware that this kind of comment from Luz is not surprising. Her leaving also leaves a rather large hole in many hearts in the Tampa area.
Luz, whose name translated means 'Light', has been the light of our lives here in Tampa for the past nine weeks. If you did not have chance to visit with her, watch her, play with her, take her to the ice cream shoppe, shopping at Publix, the flea market, WalMart, you missed an opportunity that could very well remain with you forever. I know all of us here in Tampa as well as those we have met, through Luz, will not soon forget her. This is how we receive our compensation for all the work we put into this humanitarian work that we love. The best part is, Shriner's Hospital has accepted her as a patient as she grows and needs a new arm to match that growth. Over the next 13 years, we get to watch her grow and mature from a little five year old girl, playing with her "Dora the Explorer" doll into a young lady.
As we left for the drive to Tampa Airport, everyone was fine. We did our best to smile as kisses and hugs were passed to all who could not make the trip. Our little princess finally held back long enough and her tears flowed freely. She regained her composure and the rest of the day went well. Eli received a call from Hilmer that their plane to Lima was delayed in Miami but that they were finally ready to leave at 7:00 PM. When Eli and I got back to the house, Joanne was waiting for us. Gosh the place was quiet. Now, as I sit here and type this final entry into Luz' blog I think of the past nine weeks and how fast they seemed to pass. But our little girl will be back again next year, and we are already looking forward to it. I can't help but think of the words to a soft blues song by Joe Williams, the lyrics go like this: "Now she is gone and my heart is yearning, but a man ain't supposed to cry".

Dimples

2007-08-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

I always wanted to meet a pretty girl, with dimples,

who would laugh at my jokes.

Luz Second Visit to Shriners

2007-07-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

Luz was a little more relaxed today. Such a strong little girl, especially for a 5 yr old. I guess the traumatic events she has undergone thus far have strengthened her beyond her years. Claudio and Angelica, our CardioStart bicyclists, have come through Tampa on their way to Alaska for a ride back to Colombia. Luz now has an Aunt Angelica, and they get along just fine. Angelica is a trained Physical Education Instructor and has worked in Rehab with children previously. What an extended family Luz is developing. We are all looking forward to the next 13 years and years beyond.

In the first photo, Angelica reads a story to Luz as we wait for the Ortho-Tech.

In photo #2, Luz and Kerryleena get their first look at her new arm. Bryan, one of Luz best friends, shows off the prosthesis. Luz confided to Eliana afterwards that she was expecting a new arm just like her old one. But she is happy that she will not need to go through another surgery.

The last photo is reward time, Watermelon Ice Cream with Gummy Bears at an Ice Cream Parlor in Brandon. Luz' next appointment at Shriners is July 30. Please continue to remember Luz in your prayers. Her attitude is amazing. She is totally enjoying her visit to Tampa. Please also remember you can comment to these messages by using the comments link at the bottom of each entry. Luz would be happy to hear from you.

Luz

2007-07-07T19:11:00.000-07:00

Many of you may already be aware of Luz' and her story. For those reading this for the first time I will present a short summary.
CardioStart International was in Lima, Peru, in March 2007, when we were directed to Luz, who was in a ward after being run over by a motorcycle taxi in her home village. The accident severed her right arm. It took 14 1/2 hrs for Luz to get to the Hospital Del Nino in Lima. Despite successful efforts to re-attach, and many days in the OR, infection set in and amputation was required.

Contact with Shriners Hospital in Tampa resulted in an opportunity for Luz to obtain a prosthesis. American Airlines provided air transportation for Luz and her Dad from Lima to Tampa. She arrived June 25 at TIA. Luz and her Dad, Hilmer, are staying at CardioStart House in East Tampa while she undergoes the procedures which will result in her new arm.

We will use this weblog to solicit funds for Luz and to keep you informed of her progress. If you wish to help with the expense of Luz and Hilmer while in Tampa and support for her Mama and siblings back in Juanjui, please consider a small donation. Instructions for contributing are posted at the top right side of this blog. Whether or not you can support financially please remember Luz in your daily prayers.