Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the Inferno that consumed the ABC Daycare Center in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. As the fire and smoke were pervasive, the children very small (many could not walk), and only one exit in the entire facility, the loss was horrific. Some 49 children perished in that fire, and nearly another 40 were severely burned, to the extent that each will likely require at least two operations per year for at least the next 15 years (till they're 18), as well as ongoing care for themselves and their traumatized families.
I'm proud to say that we share a very long and strong Sister City relationship with Hermosillo (we're in Phoenix). That friendship, whose 35th birthday we plan to celebrate next year in Hermosillo, has included cooperation on issues of water, tourism,disability, business, and other matters. Firefighters, Police, Students, Teachers, Athletes, and many others have gained lifelong friendships that extend to entire families through various exchanges.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed". That cliche was uttered by the former Mayor of another great Sister City of ours, Taipei, Taiwan, to express their appreciation that Phoenix stepped up and sought their official friendship at the exact moment the rest of the world was turning its back on them in deference to demands from the Mainland. Ma Ying-jeou is now the President of Taiwan.
With Hermosillo, we knew we needed to help. Phoenix is fortunate to have a world-class regional Burn Center, to participate in a tremendous Burn Camp annually in Prescott, and to host, in Tempe, an NGO called Project Cure, which matches surplus and slightly out-of-date medical supplies and equipment to correspondent needs in second-and third-world countries.
We also have a lot of caring and generous folks. I don't want to tip too much, but I can say that we have raised more than $40,000 in cash and discovered tremendous amounts of compassion and generosity, including some of the lowest-income grocery customers, most Mexican-American, from both individuals and institutions.
I'll be able to communicate chapter and verse in the not-too-distant future, but permit me to say now that I am confident we will be able to help the folks in Hermosillo fashion the type of treatment and support system they both need and deserve.
Some months back, Children's Hospital here in Phoenix generously hosted all of the young survivors and their parents for a critical cardiopulmonary test they needed to gauge any lung damage. We held a press conference and this cool li'l dude named Diego, age 3, totally took over and ended up on the front page of the Arizona Republic. A star was born. He had several adults, including yours truly, happily doing his bidding.
I have great hopes that the second anniversary of this horrible tragedy will carry much better news, both for these youthful victims and their families, and for the great city in which they live.