Young Patient Given Toy Shopping Spree
Four-year-old Anayeli Nieto went on a free shopping spree at Toys R Us in Thousand Oaks this weekend. An hour before the store opened, Anayeli and her parents strolled the aisles of bicycles, board games and Barbie dolls.
The little girl pointed at what she wanted and her father, Leobardo Jimenez, 33, and mother, Ana Maria Nieto Sanches, 32, tossed the items into a cart.
Anayeli’s shopping spree was sponsored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties, which grants wishes to terminally ill children. Anayeli was diagnosed with a brain tumor in October, underwent surgery to remove the tumor in November and, since February, has been receiving weekly radiation treatments, which have caused her hair to fall out.
“You could tell she was so happy about the whole thing. She was running up and down the aisle getting toys,” said Jose Bautista, 19, of Oxnard, who volunteered to translate for the Spanish-speaking family.
“Anayeli thanked everybody,” Bautista said. “She’s just so happy all the time. I asked her, ‘How you doing? You feel sick?’ She told me in Spanish, ‘No, I’m fine. Everything’s fine.’ ”
To donate money, gifts or services, write 4141 State St., Suite C3, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, or call (888) 899-9474.
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