More than 50 gifts, some in Elmo wrapping paper and others – like the little stuffed animals – place neatly into gift bags, were delivered by The Queens Courier to one very special family in Whitestone.
All this was possible thanks to the generosity of our loyal and spirited readers who helped fulfill part of the Carpios – dad Victor, mom Digna, big brother Jhancarlos, and the 14-month-old sextuplets – Justin, Jezreel, Joel, Jaden, Genesis and Daniel – Christmas wish list
“I feel good that we were remembered, thank you for keeping us in your thoughts, said Digna. “Keep us in your prayers.”
Digna and Victor spent last Christmas in the intensive care unit of Mount Sinai Hospital because their sextuplets, born on October 6, 2008 at 25 weeks of gestation, weighed less that two pounds each.
“No one really knows what I have gone through with them, you can never really say everything,” Digna said. “I just demonstrate happiness because my children are happiness. They are bright, intelligent and they are already eating everything.”
So in order to relieve the Carpios of at least one additional task this holiday season, The Queens Courier, and its Spanish language sister publication, El Correo de Queens, asked their readers to help fill their Christmas wish list.
For almost four weeks, some readers dropped off presents while others called offering to donate their time. One grandmother from College Point donated her grandchildren’s used playpens because they were still in pristine condition.
A retired woman from Jackson Heights said she had time on her hands and could help Digna care for the babies, as did a retired schoolteacher from Bayside.
Even New York Hospital Queens (NYHQ) collected and brought a laundry basket filled with diapers, aromatic candles – for Digna – and a very special gift for the dad and the big brother.
NYHQ donated to Victor and Jhancarlos, both Yankee fans, “Yankee Dollars” that they can use to purchase tickets for a game in the new stadium next season.
“Wow!” and “Thank you very much” said Victor while Jhancarlos immediately asked, “When are we going, pa?” Digna joked that her gift included a dinner with Derek Jeter (not included in the Yankee Dollars).
Readers didn’t forget big brother Jhancarlos who also got Transformer action figures and a King Kong stencil book.
Victor and Digna expressed anxiety about not being able to thank all the people who helped them throughout the year. They hoped however that, through the pages of The Queens Courier, at least some will read about their gratitude.
“I haven’t had the time and haven’t sat down to try and answer [the letters],” Victor said. “But I know that there have been a lot of good people who have helped us and I want to take advantage of this media outlet to thank all of those generous people that have been able to help with anything that they have sent. We are really very grateful and you are all in our prayers.”
“We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year’s,” he said.
