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Toy Drive Honors Leukemia Patient

Posted on: Sunday, 18 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Miriam Ramirez, The Monitor, McAllen, Texas, The Monitor, McAllen, Texas

Dec. 18--McALLEN -- Satesh Wadhwani would've loved to see the smiles on children's faces from the Vannie E. Cook Cancer Clinic once they received their Christmas gift.

He would've enjoyed spending time with his family and friends throughout the holidays. But the Wadhwanis will be missing one important member of their close-knit family.

The 9-year-old elementary student lost his battle with leukemia almost three months ago, which prompted friends and family to do something extra special this holiday season in his honor.

Erica De La Garza, owner of Zoofari special event center, and a family friend coordinated a toy drive with the help of the Rio Grande Valley Food Bank -- donations will go directly to patients at the cancer clinic in McAllen, where Satesh received a portion of his treatment.

On Saturday afternoon, children as well as adults stopped by the Trenton View Shopping Center courtyard for a free snapshot with Santa Claus. Between takes, Santa stood curbside waving to the passing honking vehicles, all while flanked by McAllen Fire Department members.

Although the toy drive is celebrating its second year, this year De La Garza decided to host the drive in memory of Satesh.

"He was a sweet boy," she said. "I wanted to do something especially for his family and for the kids at the clinic."

His mother, Selma Wadhwani was grateful for the gesture but found it difficult to talk about the first Christmas without her youngest son.

"I think it was a wonderful idea for them to do … it was an honor," said the grieving mother. "But sometimes I have to wonder, why couldn't he wait till after Christmas to pass away?"

She stops mid-sentence to answer her own question: "Some of these kids don't have gifts… (Satesh) would be happy to know other kids would enjoy them," she said in tears.

During the toy drive, several curious families approached the area not quite certain of what was going on.

Dru Guerrero, 3, was too young to realize the cause behind the dancing Santa, but was truly excited knowing he'd get to say hello.

"We were just passing by and Dru said he wanted to speak to Santa, so we stopped for him," said his mother Yvonne Guerrero of Edinburg. "Then we saw what they were doing for these kids and felt it was a great cause. There are people who really need a boost during the holidays."

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Miriam Ramirez covers eastern Hidalgo County and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4441.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Monitor, McAllen, Texas

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Source: The Monitor (McAllen, Texas)

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