Heroes That Hit Close Home And Heart For Me

This story came to me in an e-newsletter from the Yorba Linda City Council, where I live. It’s especially touching to me, because our very best friends in the world are from Haiti, and they still have many family members and friends there. We are blessed to have them in our lives and safe!

2 Heroes Helping The Orphaned Children In Haiti

Although the primary focus of this REEL hero story is the Yorba Linda pharmacist, Mark Gonzalez, I would be remiss if I neglected to mention another REEL hero; the woman that got the ball rolling, and was responsible for Mark’s presence in Haiti. The woman I’m speaking of is Danita Estrella, Founder and CEO of Danita’s Children, an orphanage for Haitian children. This woman left her life in the U.S. behind, followed her heart, and single handedly opened Danita’s Children, after witnessing the horrific suffering that the Haiti “street children” endure. Danita is helping to save these children’s lives, giving them valuable medical care they need, and a warm, safe place to sleep at night.

It was because of Danita’s Children that Dr. Mark Gonzalez,owner of Med Specialties Compounding pharmacy in Yorba Linda, traveled to Haiti, to aid in formulating custom vitamin therapies for the orphaned children. After visiting Haiti, and forming connections with some of the children, Mark was committed to helping them even further.

Yorba Linda Pharmacist, Mark Gonzalez, Has Only 1 Wish For His 40th Birthday

Here’s what Mark has to say on his fund raising website, fortybyforty.org, about his trip to Haiti and his only birthday wish:

“In August of 2011 I had the opportunity to visit the Danita's Children's orphanage in Ounaminthe, Haiti. The experience was amazing! I worked with a local nurse at the orphanage and taught her a few basic compounding skills with the hopes of helping some of the special needs kids. These children suffer from serious conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple schlerosis and hydrocephalus. On top of that, they live in the poorest country in our hemisphere. Now that I have seen the need I have a better understanding of what still needs to be done.

This upcoming February I will be turning 40 years old. To celebrate I need your help, not because I am going to officially be "over the hill", but because I am trying to raise at least $40,000 by my birthday to donate to orphanage. I know this seems like a lot to raise in a little over 100 days, but I feel confident that it can happen because I believe that God does not give us goals that we can not reach.”

How Can You Help Save Lives?

To find out more about how you can help Mark reach his goal and save the lives of orphans in Haiti, visit fortybyforty.org, and do what you can. Please also use the social media links at the top of this article, to get the word out to everyone you know. Together, we can make a difference in the world.

Think about this- if only 1,000 of us donate $40 each, Mark’s dream will become a reality and thousands of lives could be saved!

More Articles From Gina Lemos:

• For Families Of Active Military- A REEL Hero True Story
• What If You Gave Instead Of Got?
• Gifts That Give Back
• Are You Repelling Abundance And Happiness?