New England News

Thursday, February 8, 2007

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Boston University students lend helping hand to boy with heart trouble

BOSTON -- A young boy in need of life-saving heart surgery gets a helping hand from a group of Boston University students.

It's hard to believe that only a few days ago, this happy, laughing boy was fighting for his life.

Nine-year-old Melvin of El Salvador was born with a congenital heart defect, and doctors believed he only had a short time to live.

"He was really ill, really blue and pink and weak," Nehal Patel, a Boston University student, said.

But then Melvin got a little help from some unexpected friends. A group of Boston University students spent two years raising money to pay for life saving heart surgery.

"They raised money and got very close, and then, an anonymous donor doubled it for us," said Karen Jacobs, of Boston University.

Last week, Melvin traveled from El Salvador to Children's Hospital in Boston and underwent major heart surgery.

"He is a child now that will go back to his house and be able to have a regular life," Jacobs said.

Boston University Advisor Karen Jacobs believes the experience has been as rewarding for her students as it has been for Melvin himself.

"It's very meaningful and exciting for all of us," said Jacobs.

"He's amazing," Patel said. "He's so much fun to be around. [He's] so sweet... a great kid."

And they say they're glad they were able to make a difference.

"You just feel like consumed with love and the power that you have to do things like this," Patel said.

Once they leave the hospital, Melvin and his mom will be staying in an apartment on the Boston University campus, until doctors say he's OK to head back home to El Salvador.

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