[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E538-E539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE STAFF OF FAIRVIEW SOUTHDALE HOSPITAL AND FRIENDS OF THE 
                ORPHANS MINNESOTA REGION MARCH 13, 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2007

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor a 
group of Minnesotans who exemplify the great spirit of American 
compassion, generosity and human ingenuity by making a difference in 
the lives of a group of orphans living in EI Salvador. I especially 
want to thank the staff and volunteers of both Friends of the Orphans 
Minnesota Region who helped facilitate arrangements for five Salvadoran 
orphans to have eye surgery in Minnesota earlier this year.
  Claudia Vanessa Vasquez Ramos, age 18; Estela Martinez Perdomo, age 
18; Hector Lopez Jovel, age 10; Jonas Perez, age 6 and Brian Stanley 
Lemus, age 5 were born with strabismus, commonly known as cross or 
unaligned eyes. When Minnesota residents learned about these orphans, 
and that corrective surgery for strabismus is not available in EI 
Salvador, they worked with Friends of the Orphans to bring them to 
Minnesota for surgery. Mr. Nestor Jaramillo arranged surgeons and 
nurses at Fairview Southdale Hospital to perform the surgery, while 
Friends of the Orphans made flight arrangements and helped to 
coordinate host families.
  On January 18th, the children arrived in Minnesota, and their 
successful surgeries were performed the following day. The day after 
their surgeries, I had the opportunity to meet these young people at 
Our Lady of Grace Church in Edina, Minnesota, and experienced firsthand 
their excitement with their new, corrected vision. By January 22nd, 
they returned to EI Salvador with a much brighter outlook for the 
future in their home country.
  I am pleased to honor the generosity of doctors, pediatricians, and 
nurses at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota, who through 
the donation of their skills and time to perform the surgeries, gave a 
life-long gift to these orphans.
  Fairview Southdale Hospital surgeons and nurses: Marshall Everson, 
M.D.; S. Jafar Hassan, M.D.; Mathew Jones, pediatrician; Thomas 
LeFebreve, pediatrician; Linda Rosengren, R.N.; Barbara Resendez, R.N.; 
George Markuson, surgical tech; Christine Volp, C.R.N.A.; Dennis Bless, 
C.R.N.A.; Dr. Suzanne Shearen, M.D.A.; Becky Hagemann, R.N.; Jan 
Johnson, R.N.; Sharon Cegla, R.N.; Shirley Holton, R.N.; Kristi 
Bahnemann, R.N.; Susan Hahn, health unit coordinator; Brad Beard, 
President of Fairview Southdale Hospital; Nestor Jaramillo, Jr., Vice-
President of Sales and Marketing; Bonnie Herda, director of periop 
services; Julie Hennen, communications and marketing staff.
  In addition I want to recognize the extraordinary individuals, 
families, groups and organizations that have offered their hearts to 
make a difference in the lives of these orphans:
  Friends of the Orphans Minnesota Region and its entire staff: Judy 
Hawkinson, Charlene Dick, Gail Duer, Erin Dirksen and Mackenzie 
Wheeler.

[[Page E539]]

  Host families: Nestor and Laurie Jaramillo, Stephen and Elizabeth 
Smith, John and Mary O'Toole.
  Nuestros Pequenos Hermandos (NPH) Central America: Father Ron Hicks.
  The U.S. Embassy in San Salvador: thanks to Consul General Virginia 
Hotchner and the entire staff of the Consular Section for their 
assistance in providing non-immigrant visas for the children.
  Mr. Chao Lee from my St. Paul office: special thanks to Chao for his 
hard work and tenacity in working with Friends of the Orphans and the 
U.S. Embassy in San Salvador to secure non-immigrant visas for the 
children.
  Madam Speaker, in honor of the staff of Friends of the Orphans, U.S. 
Embassy staff in San Salvador, and the doctors, pediatricians and 
nurses of the Fairview Southdale Hospital and compassionate citizens 
who made an impact on the lives of the five Salvadoran orphans, I 
submit this statement for the official Congressional Record.

                          ____________________