Operation Noel: Lopez Family

her children learn from her will and determination to survive. she’s also grateful for “operation noel,” which providing her children with a valuable lesson in life: abc-7’s ashlie rodriguez introduces us to maribel lopez. maribel lopez: “they are alread getting older and they’re asking for more expensive stuff.” maribel lopez, a single mother of five, is thankful her children understand they may not get everything they ask for this holiday season. maribel lopez: “i feel bad. honestly, i feel bad because i can’t get them what they actually want.” lopez has a temporary part time job right now. she is hoping to get hired on a permanent basis. that’s not a guarantee: maribel lopez: “sometimes it get too overwhelming for a manager and a supervisor to be like, ‘okay, she’s going out too much. she has too many personal problems. she has too many kids she needs to take care of on her own.'” lopez’s eldest son, javier, suffers from a medical condition affecting his spine and recently underwent surgery. he deals with back pain on a daily basis, but doesn’t let that get in the way of his dreams of becoming a scientist. javier “i think science is cool. javier shares a single matress with his brother and sisters. maribel off cam: “it’s harder because his spinal condition is complicated. you know, to get out of the bed – it’s pretty much on the floor – and it hurts his back to get up from the floor and everything.” lopez’ daughter kimberly helps by looking after her siblings … and doing good in school. kimberly “i like to multiply, divide, ad and subtract.” lope is grateful for your donations to operation noel … and hopes the act of kindness inspires her children to succeed and one day be able to help others in need: maribel: “continue going up in life. you know, never to give up on anything, just to continue fighting for what they want.” ashli rodriguez, abc-7. our annual operation noel telethon will be this thursday. a donation of 13 dollars and 50 cents will help us pay for one jacket. you can donate online right now on kvia-dot-com. we have a link on our home page. as many as 5 utep assistant football coaches might not be returning next season. what we know later in sports. and… it appears things are looking up for the san