Juana Flores is a grateful mother, Because of a lack of financial means her daughter Shaskya is one of one hundred and eight girls sheltered at the Calderon Aylvardo Home. Thanks to the Junta de Beneficencia she obtained a full scholarship at the Santa Luisa de Marillac Educational Unit and furthermore receives free medical attention at the Roberto Gilbert Children's Hospital.

Shaskya is fifteen and studying in the tenth grade, she received health care, clothing, food and guardianship for school work sent by Santa Luisa de Marillac Educational Unit teachers as well as a spiritual guide which is basic for value-formation. On the weekends, like many of her classmates, she returns home.

A few months ago Shaskya woke up with a "sunken" left eyelid. At the Roberto Gilbert Children's Hospital she was diagnosed with miastenia, a self-inmune disease which affects the eyes and the eyelids. This worried Juana since she thought the situation could become worse and she hadn't the resources for her daughter to be operated.

The case was brought to the attention of Eng. Francisco Manfredi, Sub-Inspector at the Roberto Gilbert Children's Hospital. He immediately requested a full exoneration of expenses for attention to Shaskya. "The Junta de Beneficencia covered all expenditure. They give me the medicine and all that is needed to treat the illness. What more can I ask for," commented Juana.

After three hours of surgery, Shaskya. is better. "I feel more at ease because I've always had my mother's care and support as well as that of the sisters from the home.

I am grateful to Eng. Manfredi, the hospital and to the doctor who operated on me. I will recover," she told us.

I have no idea as to what caused my daughter's illness but I am grateful to the Junta de Beneficencia for providing everything needed for her to study and live in a safe, tranquil and reliable environment. A mother always wants the best for her children and here I have found it, more so with the operation performed on my daughter," concluded Juana.