Courtesy of:  Grand Prairie Today

Nata’s Journey

Local charities open hearts to Salvadoran boy

By NIKKI ROWDEN

Today Staff

When you meet 11-year-old Nathaniel Ortiz Rodriguez – “Nata,” as he’s more affectionately known – you won’t be greeted with a mere ‘Hi’ or handshake … more than likely you’ll get an ear-to-ear grin and a bear hug.

His infectious personality begs for you to stay, talk and learn more about this El Salvadorian-born boy and his story.

You would never know that the sweet, somewhat quiet boy is very smart, despite being able to barely print his name and recite his alphabet. He proudly showed off a completed jumbo-sized puzzle to prove his smarts.

The event leading Nata to Grand Prairie occurred one year ago.

One of four children, Nata, 10 – without the opportunity to attend school in his homeland – worked in a bakery everyday, not unlike many children his age. Unbeknownst to him, one evening an oven filled with gas overnight. When Nata returned the next day and opened the oven door, it exploded.

With burns covering more than 80 percent of his body, Nata defied doctors’ predictions and miraculously recovered from his injuries.

Now, with the aid of several organizations and citizens of Grand Prairie, Nata was able to come to the states for medical treatment.

Those parties included: Cameron Gray (Airline Ambassadors mission coordinator), Jeanine Walker, California-based Airline Ambassadors International, American Airlines, Grand Prairie Metro Rotary Club, Orphans of the World and Shriner’s Hospital of Galveston.

Nata recently came to Orphans of the World in Grand Prairie after Gray made the decision to help him receive plastic surgery. Gray has operated Orphans of the World for 20 years, caring for poor children from Central and South American countries unable to receive medical treatments.

Gray visits overseas regularly learning more about children like Nata – whom was chosen based on the extent of his injuries. Gray has helped countless others through the years, providing the patients and their traveling companion with food, board and care.  

Since the healing time and treatment for plastic surgery could vary for Nata, the boy and his grandmother, Victoria Anzoria Rodriguez de Rodriguez, will reside in the OOW house between one and two years, according to Gray, who also lives in OOW. Gray has set the timeframe based on his homesick houseguests.

“After a while most parents (and children) want to go home and be with the rest of their family,” Gray said.

Leading up to his Feb. 19 doctor’s appointment in Galveston, Nata has hadtheopportunity to visit and see some of the area’s attractions – including the zoo, a Dallas Stars hockey game and a service at First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie.

He also met Miss Florida Kylie Williams, who is a burn victim herself. The pair, along with an interpreter, met privately to discuss some of the psychological affects of “being different.”

According to Gray, Nata seemed to enjoy the exchange.

“The reception of people has been wonderful, people have really opened up their hearts. This has been a life-changing event,” Director of Special Events for AAI, Dusty Wilson said.                                   Miss Florida Kylie Williams gives Rodriguez

a present at a special reception in his honor, Feb. 9.

In addition the warm reception of Grand Prairie, Nata has receive a variety of goodies – including new sneakers (courtesy of OOW), an Iowa Hawkeyes’ hoodie, a Game Boy and a personalized handmade quilt. Mayor Pro Tem Ruthe Jackson also named Nata an honorary Rotarian.

All costs acquired over the course of Nata’s stay are covered, with the medical expenses handled by the Shriner’s and any additional costs paid by OOW.

The group of AAI representatives have taken a like to Nata, saying that they consider children like him to be the most rewarding part of working with the organization.

“I almost feel selfish because I love being with the kids so much,” AAI Mission Coordinator Frances Castro said.  One person who already become attached to Nata is Gray, who takes in kids ages as young as 7 to as old as 18. He said that the process of returning his guests back home is never easy.

“It breaks my heart because you bond with the patients,” Gray said.

So much so that he took guardianship of one patient Veronica – once he learned that she would be unable to return to home since the conditions in her homeland would detrimental to her full recovery.

Gray is hopeful for Nata’s future especially concerning his education when he returns to Soyapango, El Salvador.

“I’m going to see to it that he gets back in school down there,” Gray said.

Nata and his grandmother appreciate the generosity all the organizations have shown them.

                Nathaniel Rodriguez enjoys soccer

             and plays when he has the time,

                           despite his injuries.

“I am very grateful … I wish I could find the words to express my thanks,” de Rodriguez said.

After a day of the sights and sounds of the “fun and scary” Ripley’s Believe It Or Not House of Wax, it’s no wonder Nata dozed off during this interview. But he quickly popped up when he heard people suggesting that he was asleep.

“He’s afraid he’s going to miss something, he doesn’t want to miss a thing,” Castro said.

Thanks to local generosity, Nata won’t miss knowing as normal a life as possible.

Today photos by KIRK DICKEY

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