There is a ten-year-old girl in Corozal Town desperately in need of a kidney transplant. But her family isn't asking for a handout, they are taking a creative route to raise funds. We teamed up with our affiliates at Northern Cable Network for this story. Keith Swift reports.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This is 10-year-old Carla Bautista. Her kidneys have failed and she needs a transplant. But to stay alive until she gets one, she needs a crucial and costly treatment known as peritoneal dialysis.
Jaime Bautista, Brother
"She has kidney failure. She needs a kidney transplant but the at the moment she has peritoneal dialysis and he needs daily medication and that is the reason Its very important because if we don't get the needed medication then her condition will deteriorate more. She needs that medication for her body.
She has a little tube that comes right on her right hand side of her stomach and then that tube is connected to the dialysis water bag. They have the dirty water she has inside and they need to put clean water so her system can be cleaned. Then if she doesn't have that water inside or that medication inside then her body will deteriorate - meaning that she might get swell or her pressure will go up and then her heart give problems and then everything will just deteriorate for her."
.......and she might die. So for little Carla it is literally a matter of life or death. Her older brother Jaime has offered to give her one of his kidneys.
Jaime Bautista,
"Its very important for me because she is just starting to live life. She is just ten years old and well I would really want her to live more, to see more in this life and if god permits I hope that I can be compatible and I can give her the kidney and I know if something happens to me then I will know that I am still alive."
But more than just offering his kidney - Jaime Bautista has organized the little Miss Corozal pageant - to raise funds to keep his sister alive. There are six contestants.
Jaime Bautista,
"It is going to be at the Corozal Civic Center on the 30th of November 2007 at 6:30 pm. Sharp. You can't miss it out - it will be a night of fun and entertainment."
It's a small pageant with small contestants but with a big target.
Jaime Bautista,
"Approximately we're targeting about $80,000 to $85,000 if god permits we can gather that amount of money. It's very important for me because she is just starting to live life. She is just ten years old and well I would really want her to live more, to see more in this life and if God permits I hope that I can be compatible and I can give her the kidney and I know if something happens to me then I will know that I am still alive."
Again the pageant will be held on November 30th. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $10 for reserved.
