Goodwill Ambassadors

On May 1st, Elkin, his Dona Miriam, Janet Foerster, and Becky Milano, of the American Airlines and Airline Ambassadors program, departed Villa El Carmen.

Elkin spent his pre-operative time soaking up the culture of Pittsburgh and the love of his hosts. This remarkable 9-year-old boy persevered through uncomfortable pre-operative examinations regardless of the fact that he was in a foreign environment.

On May 17, Elkin underwent the surgical procedure necessary to repair his larynx thereby returning his power of speech and enabling him to attend school; this procedure opened doors to a future that, without it, Elkin would never have known. Elkin remained in an induced coma for 7 days to allow his body to recuperate; once weaned from the medication and respiration devices, Elkin’s recovery was dramatic. Within just 10 days, Elkin was able to return to his home-away-from-home with the Ross family and continue his recuperation.

On July 21, Elkin, his grandmother, his gracious host, Dr. Carl Ross and Janet Foerster, returned to Nicaragua completing a momentous journey for this young man. Elkin will continue to convalesce with family in the community of Los Cedros and will receive ongoing medical treatment from the Villa El Carmen Health Clinic; the prognosis for his future is excellent physically, mentally and spiritually.

He returned to his school, Calle Nueva upon his return to Nicaragua. He is rapidly catching up on the last 2 years of living with a debilitating and life-threatening injury. Because the Children, Health, Education and Supporting Services project is a long-term, 28 month commitment, our CHESS team in Nicaragua and the US will continue to provide the necessary social support through this recovery phase for Elkin, his family, his school and his larger community of Villa El Carmen.