Not a Dry Eye in the room

Report of Speech given at Kona – Ice Ribbon cutting ceremony

December 15, 2012

Nobles Ricardo Limon , Joe Alvarado and Shrine Alumni Katelyn Hawkins were present. .

We were invited to give a speech at this organization on Saturday.

This ribbon cutting ceremony had several VIPs, (Senators and Congress persons

And leaders from other organizations in attendance!)

There were 75 to 80 persons in the audience.

We asked one of our Shrine alumni, Katelyn, to be our main speaker!

Joe Alvarado opened the session and closed.

Katelyn related her personal story of suffering from scoliosis.

She spoke of being made fun of and being bullied by other students at school.

They called her hunchback and other cruel names, her athletic activities

Were restricted because of her skeletal 90 degree attitude pushed on her lungs

Making it hard for her to breathe!

Then she related the meeting of the Local Shriners and her treatment at Shriners Hospital Los Angeles by medical personnel.

She related the fact that her condition became so serious that her doctors could not wait to

Operate and she was transferred to Shrine Hospital Sacramento where she was immediately operated to correct her condition.

She praised our Local Shriners and the hospital personnel and Doctors   for their loving treatment of her and her condition!

This fourteen year old young lady spoke of her first boyfriend and her first dance

There was not a dry eye in the room!

I was honored to be present at this eloquent delivery by this young lady!

Applause was loud and long.

After the speech we were swamped with questions and compliments!

Fraternally

Joe Alvarado

Chairman, Zelzah Shrine

Public relations committee