How can it be! One year already? My little grandson, you have grown
so fast..and your far,far away Yaya Juani just wanted to let you know how
very speciall you are to us!!!
My gift to you is this letter written with all my love. With it, lots and lots
of hugs and kisses go your way! Attention Mommy: you now give Gabriel
all those hugs and kisses for me!!!
My Dearest Grandson Gabriel:
I can close my eyes and go back to the day we were filled with joy as your Mommy and
Daddy announced you were on your way to be Alberto's little brother! My goodness,
your cousin Alonso was only 2 months old and we were being blessed a third time
with another baby in the family. How much happiness!!!
However, you were special. The day we found out you were a little boy we also
found out you would be an extraordinary baby, and require lots of loving
care and attention. Mommy Mayra, Daddy Raul and all your crazy family here
in the USA and in Spain started to learn new things about special little angels
like you! Little precious angels whose smiles are different, and that God sends
to very, very, special parents here on earth. And so... we would be blessed with
God's mysterious ways...
A month later Mommy and Daddy moved to Spain where they always wanted
to live...but, we followed your growth daily, through phone calls and emails.
When the time came for your arrival, Yaya flew to Spain. Nothing could stop
her from being there! Mommy Mayra looking more beautiful than ever was big,
but she was very active...your brother Alberto made sure of that! You were due
July 9 th. Nevertheless, you were comfortable in mommy's belly... two more
weeks passed before the Doctor induced labor on the morning of July 22.
Although you had our undivided attention, you still made us wait and wait...
Oh, my...we waited so much that another day passed by!
Finally, on the night of July 23 rd after a long and complicated delivery
Daddy Raul came out pale as a ghost, sweat coming down his forehead, and
shaking like a leaf, to tell us that you had finally arrived...Mommy was exhausted
...and you were quickly swept away by the Doctors... so he couldn't tell us what
you looked like....how you were..and so in the waiting room there was great
silence with all gathered there, until daddy finally came out again. This time
he had a big smile on his face and elated he showed us a photo of you taken
with his cell phone! We all ran to him ...Oh, the joy....the joy!!!!!!! You were
so beautiful that we went wild hugging and jumping and laughing and crying!!!
A couple of hours later we were allowed to go in the room...two by two the
nurse said. Ha! About twenty of us ended up bunched up in the room sharing
our happiness and love with you ...marveling at your beauty. Eenjoying the
first magical moments with a newborn child...I stepped back to soak in all of
what was happening...a young mom looking with love at her child ...a very
proud father...excited grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins... all wanting to
hold and caress you, all saying what big eyes and how alert you were and
what a cute smile you actually had!!! All there to let you know everything would
be alright. But, best of all ..your brother Alberto simply adored you and wanted
to protect you from the moment he saw you...
Did your cleft lip impact us? NO!!! You were the coolest looking kid in the hospital
and you had all the nurses going wild with those big, beautiful eyes and special
smile!!! A smile that 4 months later would be "corrected" ...Once again, Yaya
got in an airplane. Nothing could stop me from being there to share the moment
and help Mommy. What a brave little boy you were. What an awesome smile the
surgeon gave you! How marvelous...what a grand moment ...we were in awe!!!
Yet, on my night stand I have a photo of you before the surgery...I love to look at
it every day...and I thank God for having blessed us with you!!!
I have one photo of each of my grandchildren on my nightstand.
This is the one of Gabriel. I simply love it!!!
I love you so much....I can't wait to move to Spain and have you close to me...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GABRIEL!!!
MAY YOU BE BLESSED AS YOU HAVE BLESSED US!!!
Love
Yaya Juani
One of every 700 babies are born each year with cleft lip and/or palate. My
grandson Gabriel was able to have surgery and have a beautiful smile thanks to
living in a developed country. However, thousands of children whose parents can't
afford the surgery are awaiting a life changing SMILE!!! Please, donate to help
these children through a charity like SMILE TRAIN...In only a few hours a child's life
is changed for only $250.00!!! ANY AMOUNT IS WELCOMED...it adds up!!!
God bless you !!!!!!!!!
Juana Aragon, proud grandmother of Gabriel Revuelta and official donor
of Smile Train.
