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May 9, 2008 10:17 pm US/Mountain
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Hospitalized Holly Girl Benefits From Pay It 4ward
Family Hit By Tornado Faces New Problems
Written for the Web by CBS4 producer Libby Smith
The idea behind CBS4's Pay it Forward Colorado project is to give $1,000 to a Coloradan (or group of Coloradans) who will use the money to change someone else's life. Submit your ideas
on YouReport
. Below lies CBS4's May 9 report.
HOLLY, Colo. (CBS4) - In a bed in Children's Hospital, 4-year-old Noelia Puga lies sick and sedated. Her father holds vigil by her side.
"I can't wait until she's back home and giving us trouble," Gus Puga told CBS4.
Noelia spent weeks in the critical care unit at Children's. She was diagnosed with an e-coli infection, most likely from tainted meat. Her kidneys shut down, her fever spiked.She couldn't eat or drink anything.
"She's doing a lot better. It's been pretty rough."
The last year has been rough for the Puga family. Gus lost his wife, Rosemary, when a tornado ripped through their home in Holly last spring. He says he thinks about her all day everyday.
He wears his wife's rings on a chain around his neck.
"I'm pretty much saving them for her, so when she grows up she can have her mother's rings."
In addition to the death of his wife and his daughter's illness, Gus lost his father this winter after a long illness.
Sadness that may seem unbearable makes Gus stronger.
"We'll be fine. We've stuck it out 'til this day helping each other out. (We'll) keep on doing that."
Gus is overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness for Noelia and the rest of his family. Toys, flowers, and balloons line the hospital room. Gifts of money go to pay the medical bills.
CBS4 is also paying it forward with a $1,000 donation to help.
"I can't believe how there are that many nice people around. I can't explain how much I appreciate what they've done for me."
Noelia is out of critical care. She's still on dialysis and is tethered to IV medications. Gus looks forward to the day when he can take her back to Holly.
When the little girl who looks and acts so much like her mother is home and happy, he'll know his family is back on track.
Additional Resources
• There is a fund set up under the Puga Family name at the Colorado East Bank & Trust in Holly.
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