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Show TO HELP HOSPITAL PATIENTS February Is Time For Penny Parade By GERRY AVANT Church News Staff Writer Where did a3 your Primary Childrens Hospital pennies go last year when the parade was over? Your pennies went to Gary, a little boy from Ireland. They were given to Gabriela, who is from Mexico City. Eleven-year-ol- d Roger from the Yucatan Peninsula received some of your pennies. So did Quintin, who is from New Mexico. These children, just a few of the recipients of contributions to the annual Penny Parade, did not buy toys or candy or ice cream. They bought a great big hunk of hope. They can hope for a better life, for the ability to walk, to see or to adapt to the world of the blind. Money from the Penny Parade, sponsored each February by the Primary Association since 1922, is not used to purchase equipment or to pay doctors. Each member of the church is asked to donate two pennies for every year of his age to help children like Gary get welL Garys doctors in Belfast, Ireland had given up hope that he could possiblly lead a normal life. In fact, they had questioned that he could even live. Stricken with a kidney ailment from the time he was nine months old, Gary has been in and out of hospitals all his life. An exceptionally mature boy for his age, Gary is finding a much more pleasant environment at Primary Childrens Hospital. He is now surrounded by children his own age, and things are more calm. Bombs and gunfire were constant to Primary Children's Hospital last November. "Il irrr nyiMWi 'AM- - 'k$' s iV SN' ,v s7 J' I I , v- - V in strife-ridde- n Northern Ireland. Garys mother said the hospital had been taken-ove- r by the army and was definitely no place for a child. I was very worried about Gary, she said. I joined the church about a year ago. The missionaries told me to fast and pray. After that, they advised me to go see the mission president; he told me about Primary Childrens Hospital It was very hard for me to give up. my home, but I sold the house so I could bring Gary over here. I knew we were taking a chance, but I figured Gary had It was his last hope. nothing to Gary has been at Primary Childrens Hospital since November 1972. Already, he has undergone three operations. Hes so much better, his mother beams. I have hopes for him now. Most of Garys hospital expenses are paid by money from the Penny Parade. People dont realize the value of their pennies, Turk Evans, director of the endowment program at Primary Childrens Hospital, said. This annual drive is the main source of our charily support The money is used strictly for the care of the children. Primary Childrens Hospital, a institution, is for all children, j ng Mr. Evans emphasized. No child is ever refused because the parents cannot afford to pay the hospital-bill- . All children, regardless of race or religion, are accepted at Primary Childrens. HcspitaL Pennies have not been adequate for the past three years. We have some children. who are long-tim- e patients. Weve had two boys here for five years. A hospital bill for one of them would be in excess of $80,000 ,' he said. Penny Parade money is being used to help Quintin, who is suffering from paralysis from his waist down. A horse, which he was riding last August, fell on his back and legs. Quintin, a brave and hopeful boy, will be in Primary Childrens Hospital for about three more months for an intensive program of therapy and will be fitted with braces. With a sunny per--. sonality and outlook. Quintin has designed a wagon for his horse to pull so he ca get around that way for a while. The Primary Childrens schoolroom is made a brighter place to be with the presence of Roger. A very good student, he is learning English and is teaching other children and his teacher to speak Spanish. Roger has been on crutches since an attack of polio left his right lower leg paralyzed and useless about 12 years ago. . the hospital in November and has undergone a foot fusion which has brought his right foot into a forward position. He will soon have an ankle fusion which will place his entire foot In the proper position. He entered . 1972 r J .. jr jV v at 4 ''s Classes are held for school-age- d Jk ;vV " ' i ' ' f ? ''X s !! children who are patients at Primary Children's Hospital. After recovery from these operations,' he will undergo a process. Though he does not have the muscles to Continued on page 14 - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 3, 1973 CHURCH -5 , . , |