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| Ana
Maria Aeschleman , 49 |
Created
24-hour help line for young pregnant women
By Elinor J. Brecher, Miami Herald - August 9,
2007
Ana Maria Aeschleman, a director of the Gloria M. Silverio
– Safe Haven for Newborns Foundation, died Wednesday
of breast cancer. She was 49 and had been battling the
disease for four years. The foundation publicizes Florida’s
Safe Haven law, which enables parents to leave newborns
up to three days old at a hospital or fire station without
fear of prosecution. |
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A 24 hour help line is key to the effort – taking
calls usually from young pregnant women, but sometimes
from their parents or partners.
The Cuban-born Aeschleman, of Miami Lakes, created and
managed the line. She trained the volunteers who answered
it and often answered it herself, said Nick Silverio,
The Palmetto Bay software developer who established
the foundation in memory of his wife, Gloria, killed
in a 1999 car wreck. Aeschleman worked for his company,
Nesa Inc., as manager of programming and software services,
and had been close to Gloria Silverio.
Through the help line, she brokered the transfer of
newborns to Safe Haven sites, soothed frightened young
women who couldn’t turn to family, and once talked
a man through delivering his own child.
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So
far, 78 newborns have been taken to safe havens. Silverio
said they owe their lives, in part, to Ana Aeschleman.
“She
helped many women in crisis and need,” he said.
“She made a difference. Her life mattered.”
Aeschleman is survived by her husband, Mark; sons Hector,
Eric and Michael Santana; mother Gigi Vasquez; sisters
Olga Hicks and Maria Fernandez; brother Raul Vasquez;
and six grandchildren, all of Miami.
The visitation is from 5 p.m. to midnight tonight, with
prayer services at 7:30 p.m. at Lowe-Hanks Funeral Home,
4850 Palm Ave. Hialeah.
The funeral service is at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Our Lady
of the Lakes Catholic Church, 15801 NW 67 Ave. Miami
lakes.
Donations can be made to: Safe Haven for Newborns: www.asafehavenfornewborns.com |
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| From
Nick Silverio - Founder of the Gloria M. Silverio Foundation
"A
Safe Haven for Newborns"
Dear
Friends of A Safe Haven for Newborns,
This is the 2nd saddest day of my life, the 1st one
was the loss of my dear wife Gloria in a fatal car accident
caused by a speeding driver.
My dear friend Ana Aeschleman, after fighting a courageous
4 year battle with breast cancer is now at peace and
with our Lord. Our lives and our families were so connected
in a very special way over the last 25 years. She was
so very special to me and Gloria. As I told her many
times “Ana without your dedicated commitment and
compassion the “The Safe Haven for Newborns would
not be where it is today”, having saved 78 little
ones. She was (is) a Director of the Foundation and
was responsible for the formation and supervision of
our 24/7 helpline.
Ana lived a life that mattered. I will give a eulogy
at her funeral mass so I will save what I have to say
on that day – I hope I can get thru it.
So
please read what Lenys Klumpp, Advisory
Board Member of Safe Haven for Newborns wrote: A perfect
tribute and legacy for a wonderful, caring person:
Ana
Aeschleman – September 7, 1957 – August
7, 2007
In each of our lives, we come across so many people
from different walks of life. There are the famous,
the intellects, the wise and spiritual, and the poor
to name a few. There are those who suffer from envy,
anger, addiction and other diseases of the soul. If
we pay attention, open our hearts and minds, we would
recognize when God sends us angels to help us through
our journey on this earth. For those of us who have
been blessed to know Ana, we know full well, that she
has been our angel. The one that you could go to with
absolutely anything and she would help, without judgment
or expectations. Ana was the glue of our community.
Making everything stick together, making it happen for
so many, yet few know of her many works because for
Ana, it was about doing what is right. Ana was fully
dedicated to giving to her family and community. Her
home was the place where the family gathered; she opened
her home to each of us with great generosity. She was
a loving mother, wife and daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother
and friend. Dedicating her energy to making the community
of her family a warm and kind union. Her tireless dedication
to “A Safe Haven for Newborns” helped launch
and establish a program that continues to save the lives
of newborns today. Ana’s faith and dedication
to serving God made her a central part of several ministries
such as Emmaus, Ministries of Mothers Sharing, and RCIA.
She helped students with reading difficulties improve
their test scores and since her cancer diagnosis, she
has been an ardent advocate and counselor for newly
diagnosed cases. She never stopped giving back. She
touched so many lives, going out of her way to reach
those in need. Ana always did what was right, even when
no one was looking. She has now finished her work here,
but I’m sure she is already helping each of us
from her new home where we will all gather some day
and share our warm gathering with a good bottle of wine.
Until then we must let our angel go and learn from her
to continue to give and be angels for others.
I lieu of flowers Ana asked that donations be given
to A Safe Haven for Newborns.
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