SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS.- A group of 145 children who were treated for heart conditions in 2006 through the “Heartbeats with Vanessa” program organized by the Cibao Hearts Foundation, celebrated Christmas with their parents at an event held at the Arturo Grullón Children’s Hospital.

From the early hours of the morning, the children, together with their guardians joined the Cibao Hearts Foundation president Juan Ramírez at the entrance of the health center where they enjoyed performances by clowns, children’s songs and dancing, and received gifts.

Surgeon Salomón Jorge and hospital director Yadira Pérez received flowers and gifts from the children and their parents, in gratitude for their work on behalf of poor people.

Ramírez said that the children, who had undergone open-heart surgery and other cardio-vascular procedures came from from all over the country. He listed Santiago, Santo Domingo, La Vega, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Montecristi, Mao, Bonao, Gaspar Hernández, Higüey, Loma de Cabrera, Samaná, San Francisco de Macorís, San José de Ocoa, Villa Vásquez, Jarabacoa, Moca, Nagua, Pimentel, San Cristóbal, San Pedro de Macorís, Río San Juan, Villa Altagracia, Jamao al Norte, Santiago Rodríguez, Altamira, Constanza and Dajabón.

He also took the opportunity to thank Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gómez, the National Congress and staff and nurses from Albany Children’s Hospital in New York and the International Hospital for Children, Rotary International and the International Heart Children’s Foundation.