SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio's Day of the Dead festivities are a great way to celebrate culture, traditions, and help several of our local nonprofits at the same time. One of those organizations is the Children's Rehabilitation Institute of Teleton USA, or CRIT USA for short.
- Day of the Dead celebrations to benefit Children's Rehabilitation Institute of Teleton USA
- Money to be raised via 5K run
- Details available at CRIT USA
Inside you'll find patients like 5-year-old Krestalenn Trevino, and you'll most likely hear her singing. It's one of her favorite things to do.
"We can't keep track of her. Now she's busy saying hi to everyone. She ignores me like crazy," said her grandfather, Roy Valdez.
Valdez is extremely proud of how far she's come.
"This place has been a miracle. She was a victim of a drunk driver at 9 months old, and after the car wreck she had frontal lobe brain trauma. It paralyzed her from the whole right side and she's blind in the right eye," he said.
She's been in therapy for four years. Before CRIT USA she didn't talk, walk, or even sit up in a chair.
"It's something I've been helping for many years," said San Antonio Day of the Dead President and CEO Javier Ruiz-Galindo.
Ruiz-Galindo says they just had to help. Money raised from a 5K race will go towards therapy efforts.
Each year this facility serves 500 families, and there are 1,500 more families on a wait list.
"We love all these children and we are having a barge for them, actually we are having two barges. One barge that's decorated and one for some for the kids to come enjoy the ride as well," Ruiz-Galindo said.
Krestalenn and her family plan on celebrating and no doubt there will be plenty of singing.
"She wouldn't be as advanced yet. I'm not going to say she won't get to where she's going to be, but this place really has made it happen sooner," Valdez said.
A little girl, with a big heart who is ready to share that love with the world.
For more information, visit CRIT USA here.
