On Sept 15th 2007 (the same day as my birthday) my 3 year old son Malik, had an accident. He went in his sister’s room and opened her closet door, as he opened the door the closet fell on his head. It knocked his top front teeth down his throat, he swallowed them. At the time I had no idea how serious his injuries were. I was lying in bed resting; I was 3 and a half to 4 months pregnant. Interesting enough all that week I was watching TLC true stories of survival ... I guess I was being prepared for what was next to come. I heard a loud scream, it was my daughter. She yelled “mom, he is bleeding” from that scream alone I knew it would be nothing but trouble. I jumped up and ran down my very short hall way, my son was standing at the other end of it with the front of his yellow sponge bob pjs soaked in blood. The hall way seemed very long, when I got to him my first instinct was to take him over the sink and flush his mouth out with cold water. As I continued to flush his mouth every flush seemed darker in blood and its color. I decided to stop and look, I turned the water off and leaned a bit forward to look at what I thought was a bust lip. But before I could see or figure out what was going on, his lip started to shoot blood straight to the wall, I immediately put my hand over his mouth and applied pressure, I screamed for my husband to get me a white towel... when he brought it I pressed it against his mouth and told the kids to put their shoes on because we had to get him to a hospital “immediately”.

We ran out half dressed and drove to the hospital, running red lights and driving around cars, I needed to get him to Children’s Hospital fast. We flew and got their in about 5 to 10 minutes. The whole ride I spoke to him, he looked very sleepy as if he was going into shock, he let me know it hurt and I reassured him that everything would be fine. When we got to the hospital I held him in my arms, as soon as the doctors saw me enter the hospital and all the blood on our clothing they ran right up to me and took him out of my arms... I felt a sense of relieve I knew he was in good hands. I then broke down and all I could do was cry... they took him in for the x-rays, I was not allowed to enter because I was pregnant, I couldn’t comfort him and let him know mom was by his side, not even to hold his hand. I stood out side the door looking in... trying to figure out how this happed, it was just a few minutes ago we where in the kitchen dancing celebrating my birthday, maybe I should have held him tighter, kissed him longer, if I would have taken him in my room for a nap this would of never happened ... I felt that I some what failed him, not being able to kiss his boo boo away the way I normally was able to. And I blamed my self. As I stood there i notice his chest rise high up, then sink deep down, he did it a few times and a gang of doctors rushed in to help. They pumped his chest and wheeled him in the trauma room. That’s when I got the first real look at him with out the towel, the right side of his mouth had been cut completely in half and he swallowed his top teeth so his top lip was in his mouth, they put two tube down his throat, one to suction the blood out of his stomach and the other to help him breath. The team of doctors worked long and hard, then a nun came in and that’s when I realized things really didn’t look promising. All I could do is cry and pray that GOD would keep my angel safe. A doctor came over to me to update me on his condition, I zoned out a few times but I did hear him say that my son may never be the same again, that these type of injuries where very hard to come back from. He saw a split in his neck and feared he may not walk again. The longer we were their more bad news we received; they said he broke his jaw and every bone in his face. That there was a crack in his skull and that his spinal fluid (the fluid surrounding his brain) was running out of his nose... One of the doctors came up to me and reassured me that they where doing everything possible to get him threw this, that’s all I really needed to hear. I thanked him...I was waiting to wake up from this night mare but the longer I was there, the worst news got. He was admitted to the icu, didn’t sleep or bathe in days. People told that I needed to take care of my self and the baby in my stomach... what baby, I didn’t know this baby, I only knew the one laying in that hospital bed. My focus was him and him only at that point. I prayed and asked GOD to do his will, I never question him or dammed him but I got closer and put his child in his hands. I also promised him that if only he could get us through this I would help others by giving back the way he helped me.

I called my family in Costa Rica and asked them to pray; I called the church, family and friends and asked them to join me in prayer. I told my friends to hold their children and kiss them because my baby was lying in a bed full of tubes and I could not hold him... I longed to hold him. Shortly after he made a speedy recovery, the split in his neck was gone, the spinal fluid stopped leaking out of his nose and things seemed to be going good. One doctor said my son was a real medical miracle and I laughed and said “it was all GOD”. At the end I ended up losing my state job, I was unable to return to work and leave my son, I needed to be there for him, at this time he needed me the most. Recovery was long and hard but every day that passed every inch of progress brought us hope and encouragement.

He was unable to eat for a while, so every commercial and every food smell had my son in tears... the boy was HUNGRY. Well finally we did make it through and this motivated me to start a none profit org. I have been doing hair for over 12 years, specializing in non surgical hair replacement, extensions and medical cranial prosthesis applications. I wanted to know how I could incorporate my gift and share it with others. I remember that the high light of the day for my son was going down to see the beautiful fish tank that children’s hospital has. I wanted to know what I as a parent could do to help other parents. I already had experience working with clients who have little to no hair and also have clients who are surviving cancer and I my self have had my own scares so I am familiar with the need for privacy when receiving their services.

I incorporated those talents and formed a group called Charmed Boston at the beginning of 2008. Charmed Boston is dedicated to helping people who are dealing with hair loss to regain self confidence. I became a beacon hospice volunteer, and most recently singed on to be a volunteer with the America Cancer Society. To bring forth my charmed vision I shared my vision with others In the hopes to gain advise and direction. I went out searching for a small personal office, set up my own personal salon in the heart of Boston (NV MY HAIR INC.) at 231 Newbury Street 2ND Floor Boston MA 02116. My hope was and still is to empower and encourage families by providing them with hope, self esteem and motivation to take control of their lives and to let them know they are not alone and they are beautiful.

I realize that everything happens for a reason, and my little guy taught me the importance of loving, sharing and caring and that’s what my mission is, to share, love and live. Through sharing we can help encourage and empower some one else.

A few months later 8/24/08 after seeing how passionate and involved I became with my vision my kids decided they were going to start their own project and raise money for Children’s Hospital, so they came up with a fundraising idea to thank and give back to Children’s Hospital for helping to save their brothers life. They wrote a letter asking for assistance, made lemonade stand and raised $1000 dollars; they reached out to local stores and city councils who also donated. They reached their goal. I was and still am very proud of them.