Leos Club gives to children in hospital

The Leos Club brought Christmas cheer to a number of children who will be spending the holidays at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. From a newborn to a twelve year old, there was something for all the kids. News Five’s Isani Cayetano also experience the happy occasion with children.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Twelve year old Alberto Jaime like many critical patients at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital will be spending Christmas recovering in bed.  Since his admission last Wednesday he has been bedridden inside the pediatric ward with a severely injured left leg.

Alberto Jaime, Patient, KHMH

alberto jaime

“I mih di wash wah crib fih ah baby and then, fih my bredda baby and then I trip ova pan wah rock and when I turn I drop and di spring, I mih di hold on pan di two side dehn then di spring gaan straight eena mih knee.”

Along with his mother he has traveled all the way from Independence Village to seek medical attention in Belize City.  Alberto is currently hooked up to an intravenous machine from which he is receiving drips for his wound.

Alberto Jaime

“I mih gaan da docta but dehn neva wahn give me wahn tetanus injection so ih staat get infected so I end up ya soh.”

Isani Cayetano

“And how long will you have to be in the hospital?”

Alberto Jaime

“I think one week, one week and a half.  From the fifteenth, I mih deh ya.”

Since then Alberto has not seen his family or friends but he was pleasantly surprised this morning when he was visited by a group of twenty Leos who came bearing gifts.

marlisse leslie

Marlisse Leslie, President, Belize City Leos Club

“For the past three years we’ve been doing this and we just come to the hospital.  We ask for donations from different organizations.  The Lions they help us and we come and we prepare our stockings.  Sometimes we would sew them or we buy them and present them to the kids here at the hospital.”

Alberto, like his neighbors on either side of him, was treated to candy and a small gift and while it doesn’t compare to being at home for the holidays the gesture goes a long way in lifting his spirits.

Alberto Jaime

“Ih feel good. Feel good fih get wah gift.”

Isani Cayetano

“Tell me a little bit about being here in the hospital knowing that it’s Christmas time and you could have been at home with your family and friends.”

Alberto Jaime

“Well, ah wah stap du dehn ting weh dangerous dehn ah wah trty spend wah Christmas home betta.”

For this newborn his first Christmas may only be one of few holidays he will live to see if his heart condition is not attended to at an institution outside of the country.  Born a few weeks ago his abnormally large heart has a cavity that can only be treated by advanced medical procedures.

For Marlisse the gift of giving is what keeps her club coming back.

Marlisse Leslie

“We share the Christmas spirit and we brighten their eyes, their minds.  They feel happy, you know, they’re in the hospital sad [and] getting a Christmas stocking filled with treats you’re happy.”

The Belize City Leos Club started the initiative in 2007 and plans to continue its charitable efforts by working with KHMH and other organizations for the benefit of children. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.