Woman turns Xmas wishes into reality for special needs children

Super-woman and super-busy best describe Alicia Silva. Born in the Bay Area and raised in Mexico, she received her Masters Degree in fashion design, met her husband of 13 years and had two of their three children there.

Then in 2006, when Silva was pregnant and divorced — her ex-husband completely out of the picture — she wanted a better life for her children and decided to return to her home country.

It was a much easier idea than a reality. There were complications getting her two children U.S. Citizenship. In the meantime, she gave birth to her third child, a son she named Isaac; born with developmental disabilities.

By that time Isaac’s medical expenses were mounting. Christmas was approaching and Silva was dreading celebrating it with her three small children in their efficiency apartment; she had no furniture and no money to buy gifts.

At the nudging of a friend she put her children’s names on a charitable gift list… and that is when a series of beautiful events began.

On Christmas Eve she was asked to pick up her Christmas package. The woman on the phone suggested she bring a truck. Thinking the package must be awkward in size, she obliged and borrowed her father’s pickup truck.

Entering the nonprofit facility, she was overwhelmed when shown the outpouring of kindness bestowed upon her and her family. There was so much more than toys for the children. There was clothing, food and even bedroom furniture for her and the kids.

Silva had been sleeping on the floor with only a bassinet for her infant. The joy and love she felt from complete strangers changed her forever. She wanted to bottle up the energy and give it away tenfold. She vowed at that moment on that day that she would one day give back.

Today, Alicia Silva is a mom, a teacher at a valley middle school, moonlights as a seamstress, is the apartment complex manager where she lives, is a caregiver to her mother and volleyball coach for her daughter’s team.

The last five years however, she has somehow found time to add one more title to her long resume. Every December, Silva becomes a Christmas angel for a select group of less fortunate special needs children in the east valley.

Her mission: to give back the joy she received when down on her luck years ago.

She does this with the assistance of more angels operating under the guise of “Isaac’s Smile”. Her band of angels come from right here in the Coachella Valley to as far away as Florida. She named the nonprofit after her youngest son born with Down Syndrome.

Silva finds her motivation from her very special child.

“Isaac for me is the light of my life. The motor that makes the impossible possible,” Silva said.

‘Isaac’s Smile’ makes the seemingly impossible, possible by providing special needs children in low income communities with an unforgettable Christmas by fulfilling their wish list.

She interviews the children from a chosen school in the Coachella Valley Unified School District and then learns what they want and takes special note of their favorite colors and sizes.

“So they tell me what they want and that’s what they get,” Silva said. “Whatever they ask for is just a once in lifetime experience that will keep their heart warm forever”.

Then on a special day in December, she and her angels visit the classroom and surprise the children. She strongly believes giving the children a small miracle will create a series of miracles.

“The dream that will put a big smile on his face. They will never forget that. That Isaac’s Smile gives them that. They will never forget and it will stick with them. I can assure they will pay back when they grow up or they will pay the community, “Silva Said. “They will pay back.”

Just as Alicia Silva did and keeps doing with the Christmas gift that keeps giving, and an infectious smile that keeps spreading, thanks to Isaac’s Smile.

This is the groups fifth year of making Christmas wishes come true. You can contact the organization through Facebook.