Originally posted by akmaxx
Some of you may know of Pancho Villa's restaurant by the lighthouse in Mulege. It is a magical place and I wrote a story about one of it's special
residents. It doesn't have any bad guys, murders, or dead marine life but it is good news amongst all the bad news in the world. Enjoy
It takes grit and determination to move from one of the smallest and prettiest little villages in the Baja, to the big city seeking education in the
best of medical schools. I know one special girl who has repeatedly shown the drive, brains and heart to accomplish just that.
Emilia Villavicencio Buckovecs, known as "Emy" to her friends, is eighteen years old and a recent valedictorian graduate of the technical high school
(CECYT) in Mulege. Emy has been determined to attend medical school since she was fourteen years old and through hard study, internships at the Red
Cross, the local hospital, and intense correspondence courses she now has a chance to attend the Universidad de Guadalajara de La Mar.
Though brains are surely an integral component of a burgeoning neurosurgeon, I feel that her hope, courage and determination speak greater volumes. I
have been fortunate to be Emy's neighbor for three years, and I have witnessed many acts of courage from her that prove, beyond a doubt, her maturity
and desire to attend medical school. One story, in particular, reflects the strength and wisdom of someone much older. It goes like this:
Emila's beautiful older sister, Fabiola, was blessed with a child. The child, Lino Gabriel, had the misfortune of being thrust into this world three
months prematurely and his life depended on the only medical equipment available in the area for his every tiny breath. As is too often the case in
Baja, the incubator and neo-natal unit in St. Rosalia were insufficient to sustain baby Lino, and the entire family feared for his life. A chance to
save him existed in the more modern hospitals of La Paz, but the Red Cross could not spare the resources to deliver such a small and unhealthy child
over such a great distance.
A private ambulance was frantically arranged, however a pediatric nurse could not be found in time to make the long journey from St. Rosalia to La
Paz. The nurse would be responsible for the delicate equipment and monitoring the life of the now one month old, but three months premature baby.
Emilia courageously volunteered for the journey. Emilia, at seventeen years of age, cared for her nephew from one hospital all the way to the next in
the back of the ambulance, alone, save for her tiny patient and nephew. Emy knew what was needed and what to do during the fourteen hour ordeal.
When I commented on how brave she was for doing this she told me, "A doctor is trained to harness emotion and do the best possible job regardless of
whom they are treating because you never know who will be on the table in front of you." Her poise floored me. I know she will apply this maturity
and composure to all aspects of her studies. If you are at all lucky, you might have her as a doctor in your town, at your bedside, in your
ambulance.
All this leads up to a request for funding. Emy applied for the full scholarship, amongst 10,000 other applicants, but she missed being picked for
government sponsorship. She was counting on that scholarship, but with only a few days left to secure her position at the university, she was told
about the need to pay for her first year. Her family is rich in the things that really matter, but lack the hard currency required to help her chase
her dreams. She needs to raise 50,000 pesos (Approx. $4000) by the end of the July for enrollment or else another year will pass before she can try
again.
Money can be donated to:
Emilia Guadalupe Villavicencio Buckovecs
BBVA Bancomer, SA
Calle Zaragoza sn Col Centro
Mulege, BCS Mexico CP
Interbank Key: 012040001722418464
Swif/Routing # BCMRMXMM
ABBA: FW/021000021
Account Number #1166708994 if you are in Baja.
If you aren't in Baja and are known to me, I will take your pledge via email and you can pay me back via slower means this winter. I don't know any
better way to do this from such a long ways away on such short notice.
Baby Lino is doing very well now and one day he will thank his Tia Emilia, La Doctora, as she will thank each of you for your support.
Peace,
Maxx.
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This is an act of kindness that will have an incredible effect on her, and everyone
in her life, for the rest of her life!
