Hospice El Paso pediatric patient to spread joy with Toy Drive for local children
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)- 7-year-old Kenia Marisol Huerta Medina, a participant of Hospice El Paso's Butterfly Program, has a wish to help others this holiday season.
According to Hospice El Paso, Kenia is battling diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a cancer that affects the central nervous system to include the brain and spinal cord.
As apart of her holiday wish, Kenia is asking for Christmas toys and other gifts for undeserved children in the Borderland through her "Kenia's Wish" project, with the help from Hospice El Paso.
Kenia's mother, Juana Medina, says that Kenia's wish is due to her daughter's giving spirt and deep faith in God.
“Kenia told me that God placed it in her heart to help children by bringing them joy through a toy,” said Juana. “She told me she had a dream where she was already delivering the toys and could see the big smiles on the children’s faces. She hopes that through this, we will all learn the gift of giving.”
Kenia's been in Hospice El Paso's Butterfly program since November 14th.
In an interview with ABC-7's Olivia Vara, Juana Medina says her daughter's told her of her dream when she felt God put it in her heart.
"She's like woah, why don't, God just put something on my heart, why don't we collect toy's and we ask grandma, grandpa, aunt's, friends, and we go and deliver them to Juarez," said Juana Medina.
During the interview, Juana Medina further added that their family asks God for every moment their family has with her, saying, "God has the last word on her, and even if we don't like it, we're going to respect, you know, what, what the situation comes, um, whatever, you know, his choice is. But of course, like a mother, like father's, that's where we, every, everday, every time, every moment we have, that's for what we ask for."
Hospice of El Paso is encouraging the El Paso community to donate new and unwrapped gifts for children of all ages.
Those who want to donate to the drive have until Tuesday, December 10th and toys can be dropped off at the Hospice of El Paso, 8515 Lockheed Drive, El Paso, Tx 79925.
“Kenia’s beautiful wish is an extraordinary act of kindness, and it reflects the heart of what Hospice El Paso strives to provide—comfort, dignity, and moments of joy,” said Interim CEO for Hospice El Paso Robert Enriquez. “We are grateful to stand beside her and her family, and we encourage the El Paso community to help make her dream of giving a reality for children across our region.”
Kenia Media told ABC-7 in the interview ""Muchas gracias por apoyarnos", translating to "Thank you so much for supporting us."
