My little Wendy

By Nelly Leiva*

I still remember the first day I saw her, it was two years ago. She was nine years old. And what caught my attention at that time was her big smile. She looked very happy although she did not have any hair it had fallen up because of her malnutrition. Wendy´s family brought her to the Pan-American Health Service because of her health. Wendy´s interest was to study, but she refused to go home with her family because she wanted an education. She had been denied going to school.

Later, that day I met her, I heard that she had anemia and simultaneously was undernourished, but despite of this, she wanted to attend school, covering her head with a small hat. She had a purse for her books, she began to attend classes. Her greater dream became a reality. She was the older girl of her class, but she persevered to become one of the best students, and she did it, obtaining very good grades. Now, two years later, Wendy was moved from the “casita feliz” where she received medical treatment to the girls’ dormitory. She is my new roommate.

She is totally recovered, her hair has grown back and now is very wavy and beautiful. Wendy is a girl with a lot of energy, she sings really precious in the church, she is very intelligent and always obtains good notes in school. I like so much to share my room with Wendy because she´s always prepared to help others. we are thankful to God because He has given to us the opportunity to receive the blessings that He had prepared for us through Pan-American Health Service.

Thanks to all of you, Good Samaritans who are very friendly with us, sharing your time that is so special for everyone here in Honduras, and donating with love for our education, because if it was not for your help we could not have the blessings we are enjoying. Thanks to God and to you, God bless you all.

*Nelly is one of the older girls in the orphanage, her mother died last year, but she has always lived in Panam Health Service, her sister, Avis, is attending a nursing bachelor's in Costa Rica, and Nelly is about to graduate the next year from high school. She wants to be a nutritionist.