the network for
Operation Pedro Pan

Ada: Were you at Queen of Heaven Orphanage in Denver, Colorado? I was there from 1962 to 1966 and I was in the Little Girls group. I am having a challenge recalling the girls from there. Maybe you can help me remember. Those years were very traumatic and painful. At times I am in awe of that 8 year old child and of her resiliency. My name then was Martica Castillo. Hope you contact me.

Message by Marta Valero | Jun 3rd 2010

Hola, Ada. The idea of having a Pedro Pan Retirement Village has also been discussed among some of the “kids” in the recent reunions. Who knows? Maybe one our many enterprising people will actually come up with something like that. –Ada, it touched my heart to think of the long time you and Hector were separated from your parents and even more about how you two were separated from each other. My brother was not yet 12 and I was 17 when we came and I remember that the three things I worried most about were: 1) Being separated from my parents indefinitely. 2) That Conrad and I would be sent separate ways. 3) Being sent to an orphanage. You went through all three of these things. You are another example of the resiliency and resourcefulness of the human spirit and of the Cuban kids of the exodus, but it is still too sad that you had to go through all that. –Ada, I got one almost identical twin of your cat. He's meowing at my feet right now. His name is Goyo and he weighs 20 pounds. He’s ridiculously silly, but extremely sweet. – Con un abrazo Pedro Pan, Yoli

Message by Yolanda Cardenas Ganong | Mar 14th 2010

hello Ada this is the other Ada from the orphanage (Andion) nice to see you after all this years

Message by Ada (Andion) Silva | Mar 8th 2010