Eilen Melissa Maurio Paternina lives in Ayapel, Colombia. Ayapel is a rural area with extreme poverty, no roads, and uneven terrain. When Eilen developed an unknown tumor, it left her paraplegic, meaning that her legs were paralyzed. Her parents had to carry her for several miles over the rough terrain in order for her to attend school. Eilen’s dream was to have a wheelchair so she could go to school by herself like all the other students.
When Paola Turbay (a famous Colombian actress) and her husband, Alejandra Estrada told UNITED2CURE about Eilen’s situation, U2C decided to make her dreams come true. U2C sent a wheelchair as a gift from Santa. Eilen received her gift on Christmas 2011 and was so overjoyed. She has been able to attend school on her own and is very happy.