Special offer

A Journey to Save a Life: Part Thirteen/ The DNA Results

By
Real Estate Agent with KW at the Parks 651506396

A Journey to Save a Life: Part Thirteen/ The DNA Results

Within a week or two, Dr. Kirschner called back to say that, with 99.99% certainty, the orphan girl we had adopted wasn’t an orphan at all. The entire circumstances around which we had tried to build a loving relationship, was a complete fabrication of the truth. The little girl we adopted as Imelda Betty Rubio, was really Imelda Lopez Lainez.

And so it began. The tearing down of a relationship born out of lies; and this time, seeing if something meaningful and lasting could be built in its place.

Over the coming weeks, we started to receive calls and letters from the group working with the priest in El Salvador providing pieces of the puzzle about what really had happened in El Salvador over a decade before.

According to the group’s records, on June 14, 1984, Gina was with her mother and father, and siblings when they were attacked by the Salvadoran Air Force. Her father, Jose, had been supplying food to the rebel group Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, or FMLN. As they were digging trenches to protect themselves from bombs and strafing; a bomb went off above their heads. Gina’s sister, Vilma, was struck in the eye by a piece of shrapnel, and was killed instantly. Gina was struck in the hip and leg.

Gina’s uncle took her to be treated for her wounds at a remote field hospital manned by the FMLN in the southern province of Usulutan, located near the Pacific Ocean. On June 15, Gina’s parents visited her at the crude hospital. Gina begged them to take her with them, but according to her father, “She was afraid they were going to kill her, but I couldn’t take her. She was hurt and it would have been too dangerous, and we didn’t have enough to eat.” That was the last time Jose and Victoria Lainez saw their daughter.

That night, government forces raided the hospital; burning it to the ground, and killing all the adults. Gina, and how many other children in the camp were rounded up, and put in helicopters and flown to the capital of San Salvador.

An aunt of Gina’s went to the hospital the following day to check on her progress, only to find dead bodies on the ground, and the smoldering ashes of what remained of the camp. She returned to her village and started to loudly complain about what she had found. The next morning someone went to the aunt’s hut and found the aunt shot in the head. With that, Gina’s family fled to Honduras, and stayed until the end of war in El Salvador.

It is unclear of the military’s motivation in taking Gina…perhaps it was to provide her with better medical care. However, during the duration of the conflict; approximately 2,000 children disappeared. Many, as in Gina’s case, had their names and records changed, and were put up for adoption…both foreign and domestically. Many times, officers in the military adopted children as well, or they became sort of like mascots at military bases. The thinking at the time was every child they could take from a rebel’s family would be one less adult rebel to deal with in the future.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this entire process was that the American Embassy knew of this activity, and many times looked the other way. Recalling our embassy visit years before, I couldn’t help but feel betrayed by my own government. Gina was certainly the most victimized…but we had paid such a heavy price too.

To be continued…

Comments (5)

Randy Ostrander
Lake and Lodge Realty LLC - Big Rapids, MI
Real Estate Broker, Serving Big Rapids and West Central MI

Wow...I don't even know what to say. It was almost like I was reading an excerpt from a novel. How oblivious we are sometimes to the terrible things going on around us. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I am not sure how I missed the first twelve parts but I will be catching up this morning.

Mar 14, 2012 10:23 PM
Joanna Szwyd
StoneHouse Properties - Great Barrington, MA

Thomas, I think I'm speechless...There are no words to describe it.. It is so sad what happened to Gina and her family in the very beginning... But at least it sounds like they got to be reunited one day... What about all these other "lost" children? How horrible...

Mar 14, 2012 10:37 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Thomas. Clearly this story is more and more compelling everyday. Randy thought he was reading a novel....This is a book except clearly non fiction. Just one incredible story.

Mar 14, 2012 11:23 PM
Thomas Craig
KW at the Parks - Orlando, FL

Sheila, Joanna, and Randy.

Thank you so much for your interest, concern and comments. Friday's blog has a surprise, and it will answer Joanna's request for pictures.

Randy, there were days when I wished this had been a novel...but it is all true! My wife is fond of the saying, What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. That may be true...but the events do tend to age you!

 

Again, thank you all so much for following along.

Tom

Mar 14, 2012 11:56 PM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Thomas, I keep trying to see God in all of this.

Mar 19, 2012 06:55 AM