Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1949)

Joe Kodriguez got his wish when emcee Tommy Bartlett whisked his wife and son to Chicago for a grand reunion. r RAVELER OETHE MONTH By TOMMY BARTLETT IT isn't often in a man's life he can make a wish and have it come true. But our Traveler of the Month, Joe Rodriguez, did. More than anything else he wished to see his son for the first time, and his wife again. And he got his wish! But let me tell you his story, from the day he was blinded by a mining accident six months ago until the day he appeared on the Welcome Travelers broadcast. Joe had a job with the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. He and wife Lucy had a three-room cottage on company grounds. All in all, they were very happy. That is they were, until six months ago, when one day Joe was crushed in a treacherous slide of rock. His many injuries included a critical skull fracture. He was alive, but doctors said he would be blind for life. Those were horrible, anxious days for Joe and Lucy. Instead of waiting in happy anticipation for an addition to their family, sorrow had come into their lives. Lucy hovered over Joe's bedside, helpless. But that is where Joe's bosses stepped into the picture. They moved him from hospital to hospital — nothing was left undone. Finally they took him to New York. In New York the famous specialist Dr. Castroviejo made an examination. He said one eye was hopeless, but there was a chance to save the other. It would mean an immediate operation. Fortunately for Joe, an unknown donor had given an eye to the eye bank just an hour before. After the delicate operation, the longest wait in Joe's whole life began. He had a lot of time to think — too much time. How would he be able to earn a living? How could he care for Lucy? The expected baby? Could he ever be the mechanic he wanted to be? The nuns in the hospital were very kind to him. But all he could think of was, Will I ever see again? Then he got the message he had been waiting for. He was a father. He had a six-pound son and Lucy was fine. Then followed more days of suspense. Bandaged, he waited — it seemed like a lifetime. Then the big day came. The bandages were removed. And he saw — his own fingers, locked tightly on his lap, slowly, carefully, he raised his eyes. There was the room in which he had waited for this big moment. Then he realized he would see Lucy, he would see his son Joe, Jr. His vision wouldn't ever be perfect, but partial sight is better than none. He stood at the window and looked out at New York. The noises he had listened to, blended with the scene of the metropolitan city, amazed him. But the West held his heart. So Joe started home with representatives of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company — his boss. Between trains in Chicago they suggested he attend a radio broadcast. Which brings me into the story. At the ABC broadcast, I said, "Joe, what do you want more than anything else in the world?" He replied, "To see my wife and baby." "Well here they are, look down the aisle." He didn't know that we had whisked his Lucy and Joe, Jr., by plane from Colorado for the happy reunion! It was tearful. It was happy. They ran into each other's arms. Spanish and English endearments filled the air. Never in my life has a moment so affected me. It was wonderful to think that I had a part in making his wish come true. I asked Joe, "Do you think the baby looks like you?" But Joe, in his new happiness, was speechless. He held the baby for the first time. He was frightened; he was thrilled; it was what he had been hoping and waiting for. "Joe, what big lesson have you learned through your experience of the last six months?" I asked him. Joe thought a moment, and then he said. "My prayers have been answered. I can see again. I got my eyes from someone. When I die, I want to will my eyes, to help someone, to bring them the happiness I now have!" From the files of Welcome Traveler (Mon.-Fri. 12 N. EDT, ABC) Tommy Bartlett chose this story. 23