Americans provide comfort, solace to Kyrgyz cancer patients

Published Feb. 1, 2012
By Senior Airman Lynsie Nichols
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Members from the Manas Area Benefit Outreach Society traveled to the Children's Cancer Center in Bishkek, Jan. 25, to hand out toys and provide comfort to the children there.

MABOS is a private, nonprofit volunteer-service organization that works with local charities to support the Bishkek area and communities near the Transit Center.

Twice a month, members from the group visit the cancer center to play with the kids and bring them toys.

Tech. Sgt. Gloria Casanova, 376th Expeditionary Communications Squadron help desk NCO in charge, deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., loves to visit the center.

"It amazes me how much life these kids have in them and how smart they are," she said. "The kids light up when we visit the center, it melts my heart thinking about the impact we are making on them."

Casanova believes it's the little things that are important.

"Taking time out of my schedule to spend quality time with these children is worth it to me," she said. "The simple smile we put on every child there makes me want to do more for the children and make the center a better place for them."

Tech. Sgt. Troy Abbott, deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, agreed, "It's always rewarding to see the smiles on their faces and see their appreciation and gratitude."