`Miracle` girl will have fundraiser this Sunday

LOCAL
6A | LAREDO MORNING TIMES
‘Miracle’ girl will have
fundraiser this Sunday
By CELINA ALVARADO
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Alina Rodriguez, an 18-yearold Nixon High School senior, almost died twice. Almost.
The first time Alina was ejected from a car and knocked unconscious following a two-vehicle
collision allegedly involving a
drunk driver.
Her father, Alberto Rodriguez,
said Alina’s head almost broke a
parking pole she hit upon impact.
Just days later, Alina had a second brush with death while at a
San Antonio hospital.
One of Alina’s arteries burst.
Doctors told her family Alina lost
a lot of blood and would probably
not make it, her father said.
But she did.
After a three-week stay at a
San Antonio hospital, Rodriguez
is now home, recuperating from
skull, jaw and neck fractures.
“She’s a walking miracle,” her
father said.
But though the family has
newfound hope and faith, they
also have to cope with increasing
medical costs.
“The driver of the other vehicle
“All I remember is that I wanted to get
out of there. I’d get poked (with needles)
four times a day. It was painful.”
ALINA RODRIGUEZ
did not have insurance,” Alberto
said. “It’s hard.”
To help the family offset some
of the costs, several of Laredo’s
car clubs will hold a fundraiser
Sunday.
The chicken plate sale will be
held at Dr. Ike’s Home Store located at San Dario Avenue and
Taylor Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tickets are $5.
“They need money,” said Mingo Vela, who helped organize the
event. “When they need us, we
are there.”
The event will double up as a
car show featuring Alina and her
family.
Alina, who was discharged
from the hospital last Thursday
evening on Oct. 18, says she
doesn’t remember anything that
happened that day. She also recalls little from the past three
weeks.
“All I remember is that I wanted to get out of there,” Alina says
of her hospital stay. “I’d get poked
(with needles) four times a day. It
was painful.”
Alina was in the vehicle with
her sister, 22-year-old Gaby
Cipriano, who was almost four
months pregnant. Cipriano was
not injured.
“God’s hand was there,” Alberto Rodriguez said. “Not only
did God restore her life but he restored all of our lives and our faith
in God.”
No arrests have been made in
the investigation.
For ticket information or for
donations, call 401-5039 or 4012862.
(Celina Alvarado may be
reached at 728-2566 or [email protected])
St. Peter’s holds jamaica Saturday
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
St. Peter’s Memorial School’s Jamaica and Bingo
is scheduled to be held at the school, 1519 Houston
St., on Saturday, from 6 to 11 p.m.
“St. Peter’s Memorial School is a small school
dedicated to establishing Catholic values and Christian ideals while providing the best education for our
students,” said Olga R. Ayala, principal.
“Of course, as a private institute, holding
fundraising activities allow us to offer one of the lowest tuition rates in the city, with a high standard of
academics. For that reason, the annual Jamaica and
Bingo is one of the most important fundraisers the
school hosts.”
Admission is free and will feature food booths,
games, activities and entertainment.
Kids are encouraged to dress as their favorite storybook, movie or fantasy character.
The ongoing Bingo game will offer televisions, DVD
players, Nintendo game systems, camcorders, home
and kitchen appliances, digital cameras and iPods.
“The annual Jamaica and Bingo
is one of the most important
fundraisers the school hosts.”
OLGA R. AYALA, PRINCIPAL
Pre-sale tickets for the Bingo game are $15 and
can be purchased from the school or any school
parent and offer unlimited play.
For more information, call the school at 723-6302.
All proceeds from the Jamaica and Bingo go directly to operational expenses for St. Peter’s Memorial School.
St. Peter’s Memorial School is one of the oldest
Catholic schools in Laredo.
First established in 1925, the school was run by
the Ursuline Sisters until 1968, and then the Salesian
Sisters of St. John Bosco.
TAMIU holds workshop
SPECIALTO THE TIMES
The Texas A&M International
University Small Business Development Center will hold a handson workshop on “Quarterly and
Year-End Reports” on Friday, from
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Laredo Development Foundation, 616 Leal St.
A $20 course fee will include
workbook.
Business owners-employers
have specific payroll responsibilities that are required by government agencies. These agencies can
be federal, state or local.
Some of these responsibilities
include, but are not limited to,
withholding amounts from employees’ compensation to cover income tax, Social Security, Medicare
and other payments.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007