Isabel's Sacrifice

There is no way that I can get into the life and mind of Isabel Nazario last night, but let me paint you a picture of a normal night that would lead up to what happened to her that might bring it more closely home for you.

First let's start with the fact that Isabel is a 40-year old mom and also a Philadelphia police officer, working for the Narcotics Strike Force.

This unit is an active, on-the-streets, in-the-face-of-the-drug-dealers group that works every day to keep the city and its residents safe from the scourge of the illegal narcotics that are at the root cause of most other crime.

Isabel and her unit are the people that 'hit the houses' of the dealers, that actively patrol the streets of the neighborhoods that are the worst infected. They chase down, get directly into the faces of, put their hands and cuffs on, and sometimes get into armed confrontations with drug dealers at all hours of the day and night.

They also have a tremendous camaraderie within their group that comes from the both the respect that their day-to-day job enjoins and from the sharing of their personal lives and family stories.

Isabel Nazario is the mother of a teenage daughter who was herself likely enjoying her first Friday night of the school year, perhaps anticipating shopping or some other activity with her mom over the weekend.

I am absolutely certain that Isabel had her daughter on her mind any number of times while patrolling the streets of Southwest Philly last night.

Helena Amendolia Update

Helena Kirsch Amendolia (3G) updates that she is finally an 'empty-nester' and is continuing to do volunteer work. It has been 8 years since she had her kidney removed and she seems to be doing well, praying every day for continued health. She is also considering a return to college, where she needs about 1 1/2 yrs to complete her degree.

Helena also reports that her kids, Olivia and Zachary, are both progressing in their education.
Olivia Amendolia (4G) is in her 3rd year attending Rutgers University (New Brunswick campus) on scholarship, and she is carrying a 3.5+ GPA. She is currently studying for her MCATS, which she will take in the spring, so we have a budding doctor in the family.

Olivia is a member of Rutgers' performing dance company, and will choreograph a number for their winter show. She spent the summer at HUP as a clinical research assistant in the Neurosurgery Department. She was able to see brain surgeries, traumas in their ER, do 'grand rounds' with patients, and work with the neuro-surgeons seeing their post-op patients.

Zachary Amendolia is now 6'2 and 200 lbs, and graduated from Paul VI high school back in May. He is now a freshman lacrosse player at Miseracordia University in Dallas, PA. He has not declared a major, but would like to go into business in some way, taking over Wall Street in the not-too-distant future.

Helena says that Zach is like her dad, our late Uncle Billy Kirsch (2G), in that 'he knows everyone and everything.'