To the Editor,

We just wanted to take a moment to extend our family’s gratitude to the Newtown Community for how warmly they welcomed our house guests, Hazel Alquilos and her two year-old son, Bezalel (“Bez”).  Hazel and Bez came to Newtown for life saving heart surgery at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center sponsored by Gift of Life International in partnership with the Newtown Rotary Club.

It is hard to believe their six-week stay in Newtown has come and gone and now they are back in the loving arms of their family in Cebu, Philippines.  We can only imagine the anxiety Hazel must have felt when she boarded an airplane for Connecticut not knowing anything about her host family, the Newtown Community and more importantly, the doctors and hospital that would save her son’s life.  After having been rejected for surgery several times in the Philippines this was likely Bez’s only shot, and she and her husband, Wilbert, bravely took the opportunity. 

We are so grateful for how our children, Hana, Emi and Ben accepted Hazel and Bez into our home and treated them as family and for our friends and fellow Rotarians who brought us meals, baby items, offered rides and arranged doctor visits.  We are thankful for the doctors and staff of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center who provided amazing and wonderful care to Bez.  There were also a number of medical professionals in our local area who provided care to Bez as follows:  Dr Lalaine Mortera, Dr Stephen Mathias, Dr Jocelyn Dore and Colleen Weitekamp.  Also, special thanks to the all of the staff, students and teachers of the Newtown Public Schools for showing such love and kindness.

We are blessed to live in such a wonderful community and we are glad that Hazel and Bezalel got to experience Newtown and all of its greatness.

With appreciation,

Dan and Meri Rosenthal

9 Megans Circle, Newtown              April 15, 2015