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American Morning

Boy Gives Birthday Money To Save Another

Aired August 27, 2001 - 10:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It's the story of how one sick child helps another. A little boy used his birthday money to help save the life a 4-year-old boy from Ecuador, whom he had never met before.

CNN's Thelma Gutierrez introduces us now to two kids who set a very good example for grown-ups to follow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Andy Aguirre is from Ecuador. He is only 4. His fingers and lips are blue because his heart is giving out. Jacob Sipos is from California. He is 6. He has survived four open heart surgeries.

The Sipos say each day with Jacob is a gift. Like Andy, only half of his heart is working.

DEBBIE SIPOS, JACOB'S MOTHER: We decided that day that if he lived one day, or 10 days or 80 years, that we were going to make every day of his life and his brother's life, the best that we possibly could.

GUTIERREZ: Jacob already dreams of becoming a doctor.

JACOB SIPOS: I want to become a doctor cause they help me.

GUTIERREZ: But it was Jacob's birthday wish that would change the lives of so many people.

SIPOS: I didn't want toys, I want money.

GUTIERREZ: You didn't want toys, you wanted money. What did you want the money for?

SIPOS: To help people.

GUTIERREZ: And so, in lieu of presence, Jacob collected $4,000 to help people.

Then Debbie Sipos learned of Andy.

SIPOS: They said to me, there's a little boy that's far away, past Mexico, and he's sick. And they asked me if I wanted to bring him to the states, my doctors can help him. And I said, yes. GUTIERREZ: Jacob's generosity would change Andy's fate. Andy traveled to Los Angeles with a guardian, scared and without family. He would stay with Healing The Children volunteer, Deborah Blessen (ph).

The next day at Cedar Sinai, Andy waits to see Dr. Alfredo Trento, while Jacob waits to meet Andy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jacob, this is Andy.

SIPOS; Hi, Andy.

GUTIERREZ: And the boys finally meet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did your mom tell you to say in Spanish?

SIPOS: Aloha.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, hola.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Aloha?

GUTIERREZ: In the OR, Dr. Trento and his team work to repair Andy's heart. It will be the first of two operations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No problem. Bye-bye.

GUTIERREZ: In the waiting room, everyone is tense, hours have gone by. Just days after surgery, Andy is done things he's never done before.

Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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