5-year-old appears in new Tom Hanks movie

From SouthCoastToday.com:

Five-year-old Kenzie Waskiewicz from Dartmouth has what she calls a "little hand" and a "big hand." Kenzie was born without most of her left hand.

She also has luminous eyes, a beautiful face and a fearless personality — all of which earned her a part in the upcoming Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts film.

Due out in December, "Charlie Wilson's War" is about the effects of a Texas Congressman's covert dealings in Afghanistan to assist rebels against the Soviet Union. Kenzie plays a wounded refugee...

...When Kenzie's parents, Eric and Dayna Waskiewicz, found out that their daughter might have an opportunity to shine on the silver screen, they didn't have a portfolio for her and they weren't pushing her towards stardom. Because they are members of the Helping Hands Foundation — a nonprofit for children with "upper limb differences" — they were alerted to a special casting call...

I finished the book about a week ago. As several of the professional critics noted, it's an amazing story that requires you at times to remind yourself that it's non-fiction. For those interested in the book, know that there's some rough language and several adult only stories. But for those whose sensibilities aren't offended, it's a whirlwind account of how an unlikely cadre of individuals set in motion a series of events that for better or worse changed (or at least expedited) the course of history.

Helping Hands Foundation Aids Romanian Boy

The Capitol (Annapolis, Maryland) had an article recently about Paul Lacatos, a 17-month old Romanian boy who suffers from complex syndactyly along with other issues in his legs.

The Helping Hands Foundation helped bring Paul to Annapolis from Romania. The foundation has covered travel and medical costs along with finding a host family for Paul and his mother.

The article itself is comprehensive and thoughtful. It touches on almost every aspect of the story from potential environmental causes of the condition to the emotional bond that Paul's host family developed for him. Most importantly, it demonstrates how the generosity of these individuals has resulted in a tangible benefit for Paul.