Letter from a Comfort Patient

Colombia, Tumaco 15 June 2009

Dear Members of the USNS Comfort:

To the Captain of the ship, chaplain, medical team, and specialists Dr. Kumar, Dr Diaz, Dr Janeth, military, personnel, translators and every single person that is part of the crew.

On behalf of Andres Camilo Lucano and Luis Eduardo Aquino Munoz who have received your support: we don't want you to leave without expressing to you our endless gratitude for the opportunities both kids have had while on this ship. This experience has helped them overcome some of the pain they have been through despite their age. Thanks for the opportunity of letting us know you, sharing with you and getting the support of such special people. While we were here our day started with love and kind smiles, with warm hugs filled with affection and not just sympathy, with people who would cheer us up and make us forget our difficulties; it was all indeed a gift from God. Your endless demonstrations of affection towards them made them feel unique and important as they have always wished. I hope God repays your kindness and blesses every single moment of your lives and spread it to all of your families.

Thanks for being part of this mission, for your time, patience, love and giving spirit. We will always remember you and keep you in our hearts.

A thousand times, thank you, your friends, forever farewell.

Maria Jesus Montenegro Berna
Special Worker

Note: The two boys she is referring to were orphans. I heard a rumor that one of them might be adopted by someone from the Navy, and the other from a family in Colombia.