Cayo fire victims receive toys/checkups from city groups

On Tuesday night News Five introduced Belizeans to the amazing person that is thirteen year old Jessica Garcia. Garcia and her four younger siblings were trapped in their Cayo home on Christmas morning when an unattended candle set fire to the floor and bedding. Without thinking, young Jessica helped her three brothers and baby sister to safety through a window. Today, as the family continues the slow healing process, local groups have pooled their resources to help the Garcias get back on their feet. Karla Heusner reports.

Karla Heusner, Reporting
Their faces and hands are still covered with scabs and healing skin, but this morning it was hard to miss the joy of the Garcia children. All five are lucky to be alive following a Christmas Day fire that completely destroyed their home and all their belongings.

Today?s activity was part of a relief effort by the Belize Red Cross to help the children rebuild their lives.

Lily Bowman, Director, Red Cross
?The Belize Red Cross always looks out for families in need. And the people that mostly need help. What we do is we contributions and donations from the community and from people all the way in the States. For instance the toys were donated by the Friends of Concerned Belizeans, headed by Mrs. Barbara Reneau. We seek the families that need them, put them together, and that is how we got these things together for them.?

The Red Cross donation included blankets, mattresses, a comforter, toys, clothing, school supplies, hygiene kits, and groceries.

The children?s father, Pedro Garcia, was moved by the gesture. Garcia says memories of the heroism of his young daughter during the fire continue to haunt him. The single parent was sitting on the steps of the family?s home unaware that beyond the closed door behind him his five children were in deadly danger.

Pedro Garcia, Father
?When this thing happened, I mi got lot of worries with them, can?t sleep at night. And even now I don?t rest good. I feel happy they becoming better. I see them feel good and I feel good too. I appreciate weh the people di help me, I appreciate it and thank you for that.?

This morning the staff of Belize Medical Associates also reached out to the Garcia family, offering a free check up and evaluation of their condition.

Therese Diego, Marketing, Belize Medical Associates
?Today we are going to give them a general check-up. It?s a complete check-up not only for the burns, but also the entire body. We are going to have them do some lab tests, as well as give them a physical examination. After we have received the results from the tests, we?ll provide them with medication, based on what the paediatrician, Dr. Victor Rosado, requires them to take.?

Three year old Clarissa was the only member of the family who escaped unharmed. Eight year old Jaime took the brunt of the blaze.

Doctors tell News Five that it will be weeks before the injured children are completely healed.

Therese Diego
?Our hearts just went out to the kids when we saw the news on Tuesday and we thought it?s a humanitarian cause, so we are going to take up the full cost of the tests and examination.?

The contributions of family, friends and strangers promise to make life better in the Garcia household.

The true heroine of the story is thirteen year old Jessica Garcia who did not hesitate as she braved the flames to rescue her younger siblings. But today the young girl is not looking for praise, she is simply grateful that everyone is okay and her family is getting the help they so desperately need.

Karla Heusner
?How do you feel seeing the children playing happy today??

Jessica Garcia
?I feel happy.?

Karla Heusner
?When you were in the fire did you, were you scared to do anything or you just moved??

Jessica Garcia
?I just move.?

Karla Heusner
?Are you surprised that so many people are wanting to help your family??

Jessica Garcia
?Yes.?

Lily Bowman
?After seeing what this thirteen year old young girl did for her brothers and sisters, there is hope in the world. Because if a youth like that can do such a big feat of kindness and humanity, human kindness, then there is hope for everybody else. The Belize Red Cross is really happy to see that there is some kindness, some love still left around in the world.?

Karla Heusner for News Five.

The children are planning to go back to school at St. Barnabas on Monday. While they look for the means of constructing a new home, the Garcia family is staying with an uncle in Santa Elena. If you would like to help the family, please contact them at 602-8070 or you can send monies to their Belize Bank account at the Belmopan branch at account number 3555.