A Daughter's Wish

A Daughter's Wish

Shalimar- Stretched out on the living room carped, Angelica Venegas quietly plays with a hand-held game. Her hands move repetitiously, tilting the plastic game in various ways to get the little balls into the right holes.

Her father, Eduardo Degasria, watches silently from a chair with an expression of pure joy. "It's a soccer game," Eduardo explains. "She loves soccer." Hearing her father's voice Angelica glances up from her game and steers her eyes toward Eduardo. Their eyes meet, but no words are spoken.

Words aren't necessary between the 7-year old and her dad. A simple look says it all. To an outsider, life inside the Venegas home may appear to be normal and simple. But to Eduardo and his little girl, every minute is a gift after their nine-month separation on different continents, during which both feared Angelica would pass away before they saw each other again.

Their reunion is a testimony to Covenant Hospices workers and Angelica's family, who never gave up the fight to bring Eduardo to the United States.

In September 2005, Eduardo's wife, Ruby, Angelica and older daughter Andrea left their Filipino home for the state in search of medical treatment for Angelica, who was born with a form of muscular dystrophy. Eduardo, however, was forced to stay behind because he had yet to be granted a visa.

Six months after her arrival on February 28, Angelica was admitted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with pneumonia, an illness she can barely fight even with medication, said Susan Miner, Angelica's Covenant Hospice registered nurse case manager.

"She gets pneumonia approximately every six weeks, and it's difficult for her," Miner said. "She doesn't have to the ability to fight it off."

Muscular dystrophy diminishes the body's immune system and weakens muscles. In some cases, such as Angelica's, the illness can lead to end-stage respiratory disease. "There is no cure for people born with Angelica's problems and with end-stage respiratory disease," Miner said.

Three weeks passes, with Angelica still hospitalized and asking for her father. Doctors informed Ruby her youngest daughter had maybe another three weeks to live as Angelica continued to beg to se Eduardo, who still didn't have a visa. "It's really hard to come here (to America)," said Eduardo, playing with Angelica. "I petitioned for 15 years before I received my visa," said Ruby, sitting next to Angelica.

The couple never wed in the Philippines. Marriage would've disqualified Ruby for a visa, according to their country's laws. On March 23, Angelica was released into Covenant Hospice's care, still asking for her dad. Eduardo, thousands of miles away, was praying for his little girl and a miracle that would bring them together before it was too late. "I would talk to her on the phone and hear her voice, but it's not the same," he said."

Unbeknownst to Angelica, her physicians and Hospice had written letter describing the severity of the situation and petitioned for an emergency hospitality-type visa to be granted to Eduardo, said Covenant Hospice social worker Tracy Aittama.

Unlike an elderly person, a child hasn't experienced a lot of things yet, Aittama said. "I think that's what motivated the team to work to make her wish come true," she added. "This was kind of a special case where we went above and beyond."

One month, two weeks and many prayers later, on May 8, Eduardo hugged his little girl for the first time in almost a year. "She was very happy to have him here," Minder said. "I think it brightened her up a lot and helped her tremendously." Shortly after his arrival, Eduardo's temporary visa was extended to a year with help from Covenant Hospice. In the five years that Maryjo Harden has been a children's specialist with the group, she's seen very few patients as young as Angelica.

"She's an exception rather than the norm," Harden said. Angelica is currently holding her own, but she's still terminally ill, Miner said. Physicians give her six months or less to live, so the family is making as many memories as possible with the time God gives them. With help from hospice, WEAR-TV, Barefoot Weddings and family, Angelica's second and third wishes were also granted six days after Eduardo arrived. She was the flower girl in her parents' beach wedding. A beach wheelchair carried her up the aisle.

"I'll never forget the day," Ruby said, reaching for her wedding album. "It was Mother's Day." Near the end of July, Angelica received another surprise. She became the first recipient of a new program called "Condos for Kids." Founded by Jason and Lyn Sprenkle, the Condos for Kids Foundation provides an all expense paid, one-week vacation in a Destin beach home to Hospice patients and their families.

"They're all so grateful for everything you do, it's an honor and privilege to do anything for them," Harden said. "Angelica has a huge family support system and great attitude. They're a very close-knit, uplifting family." Eduardo is now working with a family lawyer to get a work visa so he can remain in the United States. Wishes granted, Angelica says she's ready to go heaven when the time comes Miner said. "There's going to come a time when she gets pneumonia and the medicine won't work anymore," She added sadly.

Until then, Angelica has added one more item to her wish list. She wants to visit Disney World and meet Cinderella.

 

Daily News, Fort Walton Beach Florida
by Leslie Fike